On Thursday August 22, 49-year-old Michael Loren Smith allegedly robbed a bank in downtown Grand Rapids. Smith is said to have robbed the Chase Bank located at 200 Ottawa Ave. NW to support his crack-cocaine addiction.

The robbery took place at about 4:30 in the afternoon; as Smith was walking near the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital on Michigan Street NE, a Grand Rapids police officer spotted him counting the cash. Coincidentally, a call went out at the same time on the Grand Rapid Police Department’s radio frequency alerting of a downtown Grand Rapids bank robbery. FBI special agent Douglas Brownback reported that Smith looked at the officer who was watching him walk down the street, then fled into the hospital’s lobby. Security officers at the hospital detained the suspect in the lobby’s bathroom.

According to the FBI, Smith approached a teller at the Chase Bank as he was holding a debit card; the teller assumed he wanted to withdraw money. Smith then said, “You don’t understand, I have a gun, put the money on the counter.” He allegedly then said he had a gun as he grabbed the waistband of his pants. After complying with his demands, police found Smith had $1,926 in cash on him. FBI agents said the suspect admitted to robbing the bank, and said that his motivation was his addiction to crack cocaine.

Smith was convicted of robbing the same bank of $2,000 in 2005 when it was called Bank One.

Michigan federal criminal attorneys know the penalties for crimes prosecuted at the federal level are extremely severe for those convicted. In fact, an individual who robs a bank may be sentenced to life in prison, regardless of whether he/she was successful in obtaining money or property. The fact that Smith implied the presence of a weapon may leave him facing additional penalties.

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Brandon Cook, a 30-year-old Sparta resident, was charged in June with first-degree home invasion in connection with the break-in of an Alpine Township home. He was lodged in the Kent County Jail on a $100,000 bond, where he remains. Cook’s mother, 54-year-old RuthAnn Robinson, died on August 15. She will be memorialized on Sunday, August 25, however Brandon Cook’s request to be set free for his mother’s funeral service and Long Lake Park luncheon has been rejected by Kent County Circuit Court Judge Paul Sullivan.

The judge’s decision to reject Cook’s request came on the same day the defendant refused a plea offer. Judge Sullivan told Cook that he was sorry for his loss, however the defendant’s record and the crime he is accused of committing would not justify the county’s expense of taking Cook to the memorial service, or the risk of releasing him for a few hours. The judge did suggest that the defendant’s family members record a video of the service, which Cook may be able to watch at a later date. Cook’s sister, Natasha Cook, said that her brother was one of her mother’s primary caretakers. She insisted that the court would know exactly where Brandon Cook was if police officers would escort him, stressing the fact that he remains in jail even though he has not yet been convicted of a crime.

Cook and another man, Damone Rashawn Hammock, were arrested for the June home invasion in which the two men used bicycles for transportation. Investigators believe the two broke into at least three homes in Alpine Township, and may be responsible for more due to the amount of property that was recovered in the course of the investigation.

Prior to the judge’s decision, Assistant Kent County Prosecutor Joshua Kuiper opposed the release of Cook for his mother’s funeral, stressing that Cook had to be located by police after failing to appear for a court hearing.

As a repeat offender, Judge Sullivan explained to Cook that he would spend between 4 1/2 years and 40 years in prison for the home invasion offense by not accepting the plea offer, which would have reduced the maximum prison time to 20 years. Cook would have had to plead guilty to the home invasion charge, and other counts would have been dismissed. The defendant rejected the deal.

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In Michigan, most people who are pulled over on suspicion of DUI or drunk driving are most concerned about fines, and the possibility they may go to jail if convicted. What many motorists don’t think about – or perhaps don’t even know – is that even before being convicted, their driver’s license may be suspended. Michigan drivers license reinstatement attorneys realize that in the long run, this can be one of the most serious penalties of all, considering having the privilege to drive is necessary to attend work, school, and important events.

A few weeks ago, a Troy man who is 78 years old was arrested after being stopped for suspicion of drunk driving. Police allege the elderly man did not stop at a red light, and continued driving for several blocks before stopping for police. While officers suspected the man was intoxicated due to his slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and the strong odor of alcohol, the suspect admitted he had been drinking since earlier in the afternoon. The stop took place at around 11 p.m., according to a news article at The News-Herald. The man was taken to the Trenton Jail, where chemical tests determined his BAC to be .15%, nearly double the legal limit of 0.08% in Michigan.

Understandably, no one wants to face potential jail time, substantial fines, and the possibility of increased auto insurance rates. However, a suspended driver’s license impacts a person’s life far more than he/she can imagine. Even for a first-time offense, an individual will have his/her license suspended for 30 days. After the initial 30 day period, the offender’s driving privilege will be restricted for 150 days, or about 5 months.

In order to have your driving privilege restored, it is necessary to attend a DAAD hearing (Driver Assessment and Appeal Division). There are certain things you must prove at this hearing in order to obtain a good outcome, so it is critical you have a capable and experienced Michigan drivers license restoration lawyer to help guide you through the process.

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On March 31 of this year, a new law regarding shoplifting took effect which was sponsored by Genesee County State Representative Joseph Graves. Now, shoplifting has become a felony crime punishable by up to five years in prison.

Decades ago, shoplifting typically consisted of lifting a candy bar or pack of cigarettes. Teenage girls may have found stealing a compact of eye shadow a thrill. Today, shoplifting has escalated to something far more serious, as people steal items of considerable value for the purpose of reselling the stolen goods on the Internet. Websites such as eBay and Craigslist have made shoplifting quite a profitable profession – and eliminated the need for “fencing” the stolen goods.

The new organized retail crime law is zeroing in on those who lift goods with the intention of selling them for a profit. According to a recent news article at Mlive.com, five-finger discount costs an estimated $35 billion annually. To break it down further, what the National Retail Federation refers to as “shrinkage” costs each consumer approximately $500 each year in the form of higher prices, as retailers must raise prices in order to compensate for loss attributed to shoplifting.

Lisa Dawn Ehorn is a prime example of what we are describing. In May, the 26-year-old mother was arrested after she and what were presumed to be her children were stealing goods at a River Town JC Penney store. The items Ehorn and the juveniles stole were believed to be worth between $200 and $1,000.

Ehorn admitted to store security personnel that some of the items were intended for her children and herself, however she also admitted that she intended to sell some of the goods. Now she stands charged with organized retail crime rather than second-degree retail fraud. Ultimately, instead of spending up to one year in jail, she may be sentenced to up to five years in prison. Ehorn’s trial is scheduled before Kent County Circuit Court Judge George Buth on October 21.

Michigan shoplifting attorneys realize that most people who shoplift are not truly aware of the serious penalties they may face if arrested and charged with stealing property that does not belong to them. Not only are the penalties harsh, a conviction will affect your reputation and career.

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In July of 2010, Devon Glenn Jr. was sentenced to 15 to 30 years in prison by Jackson County Circuit Judge John McBain for his role in the August 2009 robbery of Buddy’s Mini Mart. Glenn was allegedly carrying a fake sawed-off shotgun when he and another man, Georval Pennington, robbed the mini-mart. News reports indicated that one or two customers who were in the convenience store at the time were assaulted.

The Michigan Court of Appeals vacated Glenn’s sentence in March of 2012 and ordered the case back to court for resentencing, determining that Glenn’s actions were not “designed to substantially increase the fear and anxiety of his victims,” and were not sadistic, brutal, or torturous.

Now, the Michigan Supreme Court has overturned the Court of Appeals decision. On July 29, the high court ordered that Glenn’s July 2010 sentence be reinstated after Chief Appellate Attorney Jerrold Schrotenboer appealed the appeals court’s decision to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court’s opinion stated that Judge McBain was correct in his original assessing of points in Glenn’s case for aggravated physical abuse, and that the defendant’s actions were intended to considerably increase the victims’ anxiety and fear. The high court determined that the defendant “went beyond that necessary to effectuate an armed robbery.” Glenn allegedly struck the clerk and the clerk’s friend in the head using the butt of his gun after ordering them behind the counter.

The Supreme Court decided that Glenn could have simply told the victims that he had a weapon to instill fear, and that instead, he chose to use what looked like a sawed-off shotgun (news reports claim it was actually an Airsoft or BB gun) to strike the men in the head and threaten them.

Devon Glenn is 22 years old; should he serve a minimum of 15 years, he will be in his mid thirties when released from prison.

Michigan criminal appeals attorneys understand the complexities of these types of cases. Had points not been assessed for aggravated physical abuse, the maximum sentence Glenn would have faced would have been 11 years, four months according to the appeals court.

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According to a Cass County Drug Enforcement Team news release, four people have been arrested on multiple methamphetamine-related charges after narcotics investigators obtained search warrants and searched two homes, one in Calvin Township and one in Mason Township.

A news article at Mlive.com states that 42-year-old Bonita King and 41-year-old John Pillow who live at a home in the 69000 block of Cassopolis Road were arraigned on August 14 in 4th District Court. King has been charged with possession of methamphetamine. Pillow has been charged with possession of meth, maintaining a drug house, conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine, and conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. Both were lodged at the Cass County Jail. King’s bond was set at $15,000, Pillow’s at $40,000.

The other two individuals facing methamphetamine-related charges are 42-year-old Kristina May and 45-year-old Basil Rowe, who live in the 67000 block of Calvin Center Road in Calvin Township. May was charged with maintaining a drug house and possession of meth. Rowe was charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of meth and maintaining a drug house, operating and maintaining a methamphetamine lab, and other meth-related charges. The two were lodged at the Cass County Jail. May’s bond was set at $20,000, Rowe’s at $60,000.

Although news reports do not indicate the amount of drugs involved, Michigan drug possession lawyers know that these types of offenses are punished severely in the state of Michigan. Methamphetamine is a Schedule II drug, defined as those substances or chemicals with a high potential for addiction or abuse. This means the penalties for those convicted will be extremely serious. In fact, an individual convicted of possessing more than 1,000 grams faces fines of up to $1,000,000 and possible life imprisonment.

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On Monday August 19, 17-year-old Elliott Coates turned himself in to police according to a news article at The Herald Palladium. Coates had been wanted in connection with the July shooting of two teen boys in Broadway Park.

Coates, who is a resident of Benton Harbor, had been hiding out by running from one city to another in Michigan; he also went to Milwaukee, WI according to Benton Harbor’s deputy director of police services’ Dan McGinnis. McGinnis stated that Coates was “feeling the pressure” of the manhunt being conducted across the two states, which resulted in his surrendering to police.

Coates is accused of shooting two teenage boys in late July in Broadway Park, one of the victims 16 years old, the other 17 years old. The names of the alleged victims have not been released due to the fact they are juveniles, according to McGinnis. News reports indicate that the shooting occurred late in the afternoon on July 31, and that one of the victims was shot in the arm, the other in the stomach. Both boys were transported to an area hospital and were released. It is also believed that Coates may have fired at a third individual and missed.

Berrien County Prosecutor Michael Sepic authorized criminal charges against Coates in early August. He is currently being held in the Berrien County jail while he awaits arraignment on one count of carrying a concealed weapon, one count of felony firearm, and three counts of attempted murder. Police believe Coates and the victims were involved in a fight in the park prior to shots being fired.

Several agencies were involved in the manhunt for Coates including the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force, Battle Creek and Milwaukee Police Departments, Berrien County Sheriff’s Department and Benton Harbor Public Safety Department.

Michigan attempted murder attorneys know the criminal penalties for attempted murder are extremely serious; in fact, if convicted, an individual may face life in prison.

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On Monday August 19, a traffic stop in South Haven resulted in two men being arrested after it was found the men were in possession of cocaine, marijuana, and an open bottle of vodka.

The men were driving a white Pontiac Bonneville in the area of CR 388 near I-196 at approximately 3 p.m. when they were pulled over in conjunction with the Office of Highway Safety Planning’s Seat Belt grant, according to a news article at Mlive.com. Van Buren County Sheriff’s deputies made the stop, and after investigating searched the Bonneville with the driver’s consent.

Upon searching the vehicle, deputies found 1.5 grams of marijuana, an open bottle of vodka, 0.2 grams of cocaine, and a digital drug scale. The driver, a resident of Gobles, was arrested and charged with cocaine possession, improperly transporting medical marijuana in a motor vehicle, driving on a suspended license, and transporting open intoxicants in a motor vehicle. The passenger of the vehicle is from South Haven; he was also arrested and charged with possession of open intoxicants in a motor vehicle.

The two men were lodged at the Van Buren County Jail. $100 was seized from the men under the Civil Forfeiture Act; police believe the money was related to drug activity.

Michigan drug possession attorneys know that even when an individual is accused of possessing a small amount of cocaine (under 50 grams), penalties are severe if convicted. For example, the defendant may face up to four years in prison and fines of as much as $25,000. For amounts more than 50 grams, penalties increase exponentially.

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In April of 2000, Reginald Walker, a Detroit-area man who was 46 years old, allegedly shot and killed Larry John Troup inside a liquor store on the northwest side of Detroit. The incident occurred after Troup and a friend who were in the store were paying for their purchases, and the friend accidentally bumped into Walker.

The defense had a very different story of what took place inside the liquor store, claiming that Troup’s friend, Walter Gaiter, did not accidentally bump into Walker, but instead place his arm around Walker and told him, “That’s some nice jewelry you got on, man, old man.” Walker testified that he was wearing jewelry worth about $1,500 at the time, and that when Gaiter made the comment that he could get robbed while wearing all that jewelry and being in a drunken state, Gaiter had his hand in his pocket. Ultimately, Walker claimed that the two men pushed him into an aisle and showed him weapons; Walker claims he was shot in the hand by Gaiter, and that his own gun was in the hand which was shot. His gun went off, striking Larry John Troup. Walker claims he did not know that he had shot Troup.

In June of 2011, Walker filed an appeal of is conviction in the United States Court of Appeals, arguing that his attorney provided ineffective counsel when he failed to investigate and present an insanity defense. According to a news story at ABC12.com, Walker had a 30-year history of mental illness, which was significant enough that he qualified for Social Security benefits.

Now, a federal appeals court has overturned Walker’s conviction. After more than 10 years in prison, Walker has been set free and will remain free unless brought to trial within a six month time period. The appeals court agreed that the defendant’s counsel was ineffective for neglecting to bring up Walker’s long battle with mental illness at trial.

Michigan criminal appeals lawyers know that this is a very rare case, and that it is not often a defendant’s conviction is overturned. However, for an individual to have the very best chance of being successful in appealing a conviction or sentence, it is imperative to have an attorney who is skilled and knowledgeable in the criminal appeal process.

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Jessie Jones, a 42-year-old Liberty Township resident, was recently arrested for allegedly dealing heroin according to a news article at Mlive.com. Jones, who was arraigned on three felony charges on Thursday, August 15, was charged with using a firearm to commit a felony, felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of heroin with intent to deliver.

On August 13, the Jackson Narcotics Enforcement Team searched Jones’s girlfriend’s home; Jones and his girlfriend were both at the residence according to police. Police searched the residence and located a handgun that had recently been stolen, according to Michigan State Police Detective Lt. David Cook. Police also found 3.5 grams of heroin on Jones.

Jackson Narcotics Enforcement Team had secured a warrant to search the home, located near Hatch Road in the 8000 block of S. Jackson Road. The team members secured the warrant as they had purchased heroin from Jones on several occasions. Prosecutors are asking that Jones’s girlfriend be charged in the case as well, although she had not been arrested as of August 16.

In the state of Michigan heroin is a Schedule 1 illicit narcotic which will leave those convicted facing extremely serious criminal penalties. Drugs which fall under Schedule 1 are penalized the most harshly, and are considered substances that are the most highly addictive and abused. As all Michigan drug dealing attorneys know, individuals who are accused of possessing heroin with the intent to deliver must obtain the legal guidance and support of an aggressive lawyer immediately.

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