Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog

January 11, 2016

Florida Woman Arrested for DUI, Allegedly Drove Recklessly with Four Children in Vehicle

On January 9, a Florida woman was arrested in Melbourne, FL after a passerby noticed she was driving at a high rate of speed without headlights, zigzagging through traffic on U.S. 1. The passerby reported the woman’s driving to authorities, who pulled over 33-year-old Jacquelyn Tadrous. Although she was said to be driving recklessly with four children in the vehicle, police also noticed she appeared to be intoxicated, and had open containers of alcohol inside the vehicle.

The incident occurred at about 11:30 p.m. according to news reports. The children in the vehicle ranged from two to 16 years of age; Tadrous faces charges including child neglect, violation of probation, and driving under the influence. In addition, police said she was on probation for a July 2015 DUI conviction, and driving on a suspended license. Tadrous, a Rockledge resident, was incarcerated at the Brevard County Jail and held without bond pending her court appearance on Monday, January 11.

In the state of Michigan, anyone who drives while under the influence of alcohol or drugs with a child or children younger than 16 may be charged with child endangerment. While charges of driving under the influence are serious, DUI with a child in the vehicle are even more serious. Considering Tadrous was on probation for a 2015 DUI conviction, the criminal penalties she will face if found guilty will likely be enhanced.

January 8, 2016

Second Auto Theft in Ypsilanti Over the Last Week as Running Car Gets Stolen from Driveway

by Scott Grabel

On Thursday January 7, a car that was left running in a driveway in Ypsilanti was stolen according to a news report at Mlive.com. Authorities say the car, a 2005 silver Chevrolet Impala, was at a residence in the 1000 block of Nash Avenue when the incident occurred.

Two unknown suspects were last observed driving the vehicle north on Nash. The car is reported to have a dent in the front driver side quarter panel, and a paper plate in the rear window.

Just two days earlier, a woman left her vehicle running as she went inside a business in Ypsilanti; her vehicle was gone when she returned just 10 minutes later. This incident occurred in the 600 block of East Michigan Avenue. In this case, the vehicle stolen was a 2010 Ford Fusion, gray in color, with damage to the right side of the front bumper. Reports claim the bumper has duct tape on it.

January 7, 2016

Atlanta Motorist Refuses Test, Judge Lifts Driver’s License Suspension

by Scott Grabel

The majority of the time, a person’s driver’s license is suspended due to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. There are other reasons why someone’s license may be suspended, but this article focuses on drinking and driving.

Recently, an article at AJC.com revealed that a judge in Atlanta lifted the suspension of a motorist’s driver’s license after he refused to take a field sobriety test after being stopped for driving 55 mph in a 35 mph zone. David Leoni was stopped by an Atlanta police officer who claimed that while Leoni’s eyes were watery, they were not red. The police officer also claimed that Leoni exited his vehicle and walked without balance problems, and that he answered all questions appropriately. Leoni refused to submit to field sobriety tests, and told the officer he had been sleeping when friends called and asked him for a ride.

On New Year’s Eve, a Georgia administrative law judge ruled that an odor of alcohol on the breath, watery eyes, and even striking a curb are not sufficient evidence to determine that a motorist is drunk and his/her license should be suspended. In this case, the judge ruled that the officer did not have sufficient evidence to arrest Leoni for impairment, because a person’s ability to drive after consuming alcohol varies from one person to another. The judge ruled that a driver could only be considered drunk when he or she became incapable of driving safely while under the influence of alcohol. The judge’s ruling also stated insufficient grounds for the Dept. of Driver Services to suspend Leoni’s license; he restored Leoni’s license pending his criminal case.

January 5, 2016

Three California Men Arrested in $2 Million Marijuana Bust in PA, Including Sheriff’s Deputy

by Scott Grabel

On December 28, three men were arrested in York County, PA after being stopped by authorities as they drove from California to a home in West Manheim Township in two pickup trucks for the purpose of delivering drugs. According to news reports, those arrested include Tyler Long, Ryan Falsone, and Christopher Heath, a California sheriff’s deputy.

The three men were stopped in the Hanover area, not a routine traffic stop. According to York County District Attorney Tom Kearney, police had been operating on intelligence they had received, and were prepared to make the stop. They knew prior who they were going to stop, and the reason for the stop – $2 million in marijuana the men were transporting for delivery. News reports indicate police seized 247 pounds of marijuana during the traffic stop.

Upon his arrest, 37-year-old Heath of Bangor was in possession of his service weapon and badge. Heath, along with Falsone and Long have been charged with possession with intent to deliver marijuana, delivery of marijuana, and criminal conspiracy to deliver marijuana. Each of the three posted a $1 million bail.

January 4, 2016

Interesting Facts Related to Michigan DUI Arrests

by Scott Grabel

Michigan State Police collected statistics for drunk driving charges and arrests for 2014, and there are some very interesting facts according to a recent article at Mlive.com. Michigan’s 2014 Drunk Driving Audit confirmed that just over 35,000 individuals in the state were convicted on DUI charges in 2014. What else did we learn?

Over the last decade, arrests and convictions have dropped by 35% across the state. Does this mean fewer people are driving while under the influence? Not necessarily – people are driving less. Annual reports indicate that over the past ten years, vehicle miles driven have also dropped by about 30%. Another factor for the reduction in DUI arrests and convictions is that there are fewer traffic stops because of a smaller police force, resulting in fewer road patrols.

The good news is that over the last decade, impaired driving resulting in injury has dropped by 30%, while the number of deaths attributed to accidents caused by drunk drivers has dropped by 19%.

January 1, 2016

Attorneys Seek New Trial for Houston Man Convicted of Strangulation, Soon to be Executed

by Scott Grabel

In 2001, Richard Masterson was found guilty of the February strangulation of 35-year-old Darrin Honeycutt in Houston, TX. Masterson is scheduled to be executed in less than three weeks, however his lawyers are now arguing that Masterson’s conviction was based on a questionable confession and botched autopsy, according to an article at the Houston Chronicle. The victim was a female impersonator, according to reports.

According to Masterson, the two were engaged in sexual activity when Honeycutt accidentally died. However, Masterson’s attorneys contend that the Harris County medical examiner erroneously classified the victim’s death as a homicide, even though while the death was attributed to strangulation the medical examiner suggested the victim’s neck had not been subject to deadly pressure. Masterson’s lawyers claim that at the time he confessed to the crime, he was suffering from mental illness.
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December 29, 2015

Georgia Woman Arrested for Possession of Controlled Substance on Christmas Eve

by Scott Grabel

On Christmas Eve, Thomasville, GA police pulled a vehicle over at approximately 6:30 p.m. for having no tag lights. According to a news article at the Times Enterprise, upon stopping the pickup truck the officer noticed a strong odor of what he suspected to be burned marijuana. At this point, police searched the vehicle and its occupants.

What essentially began as a traffic stop turned into something much larger, as a passenger of the vehicle was found to have a Schedule I narcotic drug on her person. According to Kevin Lee, commander of the Thomas County/Thomasville Narcotics/Vice Division, the drug found in a plastic bag in the crotch area of the pants worn by the passenger was believed to be a synthetic substance such as molly or flakka. The woman who had the drug on her person was 36-year-old Jamie Lynn Gordon. She was charged with possession of a Schedule I controlled substance.
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December 28, 2015

Fire Chief in California Arrested on Suspicion of DUI

by Scott Grabel

On Friday December 18, 60-year-old William Dekker, Garden Valley Fire chief, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to El Dorado County sheriff’s deputies.

The incident began when a neighbor of Dekker’s called the sheriff’s office reporting a dispute in Greenwood, where Dekker lived. The man told deputies that he and Dekker had gotten into an argument over a loose dog, and that Dekker threatened to shoot the man. When deputies arrived in Greenwood, they saw Dekker driving by and flagged him down.

Upon speaking with Dekker about the incident, deputies suspected he may have been drinking. They then conducted a series of field sobriety tests, and determined that the fire chief was under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested and booked into the county jail, and later released on $5,000 bail. At the time of his arrest, Dekker was driving his own personal vehicle.

December 24, 2015

Philadelphia Monsignor’s Conviction Vacated by Appeals Court, New Trial Ordered

by Scott Grabel

Recently it was announced that the conviction of Msgr. William J. Lynn for endangering the welfare of a child has been vacated by a Pennsylvania appeals court. Lynn, who was convicted in 2012, was serving a three-to-six year prison sentence. According to a news article at NCR Online, Lynn was the first Catholic administrator in the country to be imprisoned for failure to sufficiently supervise a sexually abusive priest.

A new trial has been ordered in the case, however in the appeals court’s decision, the judges found that the trial court “abused its discretion” in allowing evidence against the monsignor which include 21 supplemental cases of sex abuse, some dated back to three years before the defendant was even born. The original trial was overseen by Judge M. Teresa Sarmina in the Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, who was blasted in the Superior Court judges’ decision.

December 22, 2015

Drug Arrest Results in Loss of Job for Florida Child-welfare Case Manager

by Scott Grabel

Recently, 42-year-old Cleopatra Price lost her job as a child-welfare case manager with Impower, an organization subcontracted by Brevard Family Partnership when she was arrested for allegedly trafficking methamphetamine and heroin.

In a December 21 news article at Florida Today, Dept. of Children and Families spokeswoman Kristi Gray stated that Price worked directly with families in some kind of capacity, a position of trust. Gray went on to say this type of charge is “absolutely unacceptable.” In her position as child-welfare case manager, Price oversaw 17 cases involving children and families.

Following a series of undercover drug buys of cocaine and heroin which Price was allegedly involved in, Brevard County sheriff’s deputies carried out a search warrant at her home. Removed from her $39,000 per year position, Price was charged with possession of meth with intent to sell, trafficking 30.5 grams of cocaine, and trafficking 56 grams of heroin. Authorities also claim to have discovered marijuana, Oxycodone pills, and three stolen handguns in Price’s dresser drawer. Her live-in boyfriend, Raybean Phillips, was also arrested and charged with various drug offenses.