Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog

May 11, 2015

Florida Woman Arrested for DUI Three Times Within One Week

Recently, 31-year-old Jennifer Yi of Brandon, FL was arrested three times within a 6-day time period. According to a news report at WFLA.com, Yi was arrested on April 30, May 1, and again on May 5.

Yi would not submit to a blood alcohol test during the first two arrests, however she did take the test after being pulled over on Tuesday May 5, the last time she was arrested. Records show that Yi was first stopped on Thursday, April 30 in the area of Brandon Blvd. W. Hillsborough County sheriff’s deputies arrested her and took her to jail, where she was released after posting $500 bond. The very next day (May 1), Yi was pulled over on Brandon Blvd. E. where deputies again arrested her after she refused to take a blood test, and took her to jail once more where she was released on a $500 bond.

The final arrest on May 5 resulted in Yi’s being arrested and booked into the county jail; this time she did take a blood alcohol test. Her bond was set at $100,000 for this third DUI arrest, although the results of the test were not revealed. Yi is reportedly employed by Coca Cola.

May 7, 2015

Former Pediatrician Found Guilty of Child Endangerment in Water boarding Case Appeals

by Scott Grabel

In July of 2012, Melvin Morse, a 61-year-old former pediatrician, was charged with endangerment and assault after the daughter of his girlfriend ran away, accusing Morse of water boarding and other abuse. He was found guilty of the charges against him in February 2014, and sentenced to three years in prison. Now Morse, who has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and Larry King Live, is appealing his conviction according to news reports at NBC News and U.S. News & World Report.

At the time of the alleged water boarding incident, Morse was 58 years old. In all, Morse was convicted of felony reckless endangerment and five misdemeanors. On Wednesday, May 6 it was announced that Morse would appeal his conviction on several grounds. One issue, according to Morse’s defense attorney Joseph Hurley, was the fact that a judge in the case allowed jurors to review videotapes of statements given by the alleged victim and her younger sister during deliberations – statements that were unsworn. Hurley claims that a prosecutor in the case encouraged jurors during her closing arguments to request permission from the judge to review the tapes if jurors felt it would help them in deliberations. However, the evidence challenging statements made by the girls in the videotapes the defense had in its possession was never made available to jurors.

Hurley also argued to the three-justice panel at the Delaware Supreme Court that the judge in the case erred when he allowed jurors to consider evidence of additional “bad acts” for which his client was not charged. Ultimately, Hurley felt that jurors were inflamed and Morse unfairly prejudiced because of the cumulative evidence.

May 5, 2015

Seth Gilliam of ‘The Walking Dead’ Arrested on DUI, Other Charges

by Scott Grabel

On Sunday morning, May 3, Seth Gilliam of ‘The Walking Dead’ hit AMC series was arrested in Peachtree City, GA when he was pulled over by police after driving 107 mph in a 55 mph zone, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Gilliam plays Rev. Gabriel Stokes, a morally conflicted reverend, on the television show. The show is filmed in Senoia, GA according to CNN.

Gilliam admitted to having drank three beers and a shot after being pulled over when the officer noticed an odor of alcohol on the actor and asked if he had been drinking. A police report also indicates that the officer found a marijuana joint in the vehicle after detecting the smell of marijuana.

The actor has had recurring roles on Teen Wolf and The Good Wife; he was charged with possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, DUI, reckless driving, and speeding. Gilliam was booked into the Fayette County Jail and later released. A breath test revealed Gilliam’s BAC (blood alcohol content) was .107, slightly higher than the legal limit of .08 percent.

May 4, 2015

Portland Police Respond to Reports of Gunshots, Arrest Three on Drug & Weapon Charges

by Scott Grabel

Early Saturday morning on May 2, Southeast Portland police responded to reports of gunshots heard in the area of East Burnside Street and Southeast 83rd Avenue. Upon arriving at the scene, one witness said that multiple gunshots were fired, and that someone shot from a dark-colored vehicle. Ultimately, three men were arrested on drug and weapon charges, although police found no property damage in the neighborhood, and there were no victims.

Those arrested include Dajuan Travonte Shakier, 23, who was charged with felon in possession of a firearm and possession of cocaine. Ismail Sharif Abdullahi, also 23, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of cocaine. Robert Jermaine Richardson Jr., 20, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of cocaine. Shakier was also charged with parole violation.

When police located the vehicle described by a witness, one of the men got out of the car and attempted to walk away, but was stopped by police. Officers reportedly noticed a shotgun in the floorboard of the back seat, and also located a handgun upon searching the vehicle. Thousands of dollars in cash was also seized from the three men.

May 1, 2015

Arson at Metro Detroit Golf Course Results in Nearly $1 Million in Damages, Believed to Be Caused by Two People

by Scott Grabel

On Friday morning April 22, a fire broke out at Myth Golf and Banquet Center in Oakland Township that ultimately resulted in nearly $1 million in damages, according to news reports. Police believe that two individuals are responsible for the arson fire, although no suspects have been named.

The fires are believe to have been set at around 4 in the morning. In all, a pole barn and 57 golf carts were destroyed by the blaze; investigators believe the arsonists set three separate fires, one to an area where more than 30 golf carts were parked, one to a single golf cart which was driven to a pond in the center of the course before being set on fire, and a large pole barn. The pole barn is said to have contained lawn maintenance equipments, about 25 golf carts, and numerous 55 gallon drums containing gasoline, fertilizer, oil, and other flammable materials.

According to Oakland Township Fire Chief Paul Strelchuk, there are no hydrants in the area, so crews used water from a nearby pond. Strelchuk also said that they had to put in an alarm for tankers, and that ultimately crews from seven fire departments came in to help fight the fires. These included firefighters from Addison and Bruce Townships, Washington Township, Rochester Hills, Oxford, Orion, and Rochester. HAZMAT was called in and worked to clean up flammable materials from the drums that had pooled in various areas of the pole barn, which was destroyed in the fire.

April 30, 2015

Abundance of Caution Sometimes Understandable Regarding Driver’s License Reinstatement

by Scott Grabel

In the state of Michigan, someone who has his/her driver’s license revoked for multiple DUIs or other reasons faces an uphill battle when it comes to getting the license reinstated. Why is it so difficult, and why, in most cases, does someone whose license has been revoked have to go through the complicated process of a DLAD (Driver’s License Appeal Division) hearing?

The fact is, most who have their license suspended or revoked for driving under the influence will do it again – in the opinion of state lawmakers, anyway. The government is cautious primarily because it does not want to put innocent people’s lives in danger. This is sometimes understandable, considering one recent incident in which a 61-year-old Battle Creek woman had just had her license reinstated and one day later crashed into an ambulance, resulting in the deaths of three individuals. Shirley Stokes, the woman who had her license reinstated the day prior to the accident, ran a red light while under the influence of alcohol. The accident resulted in the deaths of herself, her passenger, 54-year-old James Earl Stokes, and the patient inside the ambulance who was suffering from cardiac arrest.

While DUI or OWI (Operating While Intoxicated) result in serious implications such as possible jail time, fines, community service, and other punishment, driver’s license suspension or revocation is often the worst punishment of all. Not everyone who seeks to have his/her license reinstated is eligible, however those who are face an arduous task. DAAD hearing officers demand clear and convincing evidence that the petitioner is “rehabilitated,” and that he or she will not consume alcohol, or once again fall into the habit of drinking and possibly driving while under the influence. This requires an extensive effort and mountains of paperwork, including supporting exhibits such as letters of reference, a substance abuse evaluation, 10 panel drug screening, documents that support you have changed your lifestyle, and testimony from yourself and possibly other witnesses who can testify on your behalf.

April 28, 2015

Minor Traffic Violation Leads to Drug Bust in Price, Utah Over Weekend

by Scott Grabel

On Saturday, April 25, a routine traffic stop in Price, Utah for a minor traffic violation resulted in a drug bust and the arrests of three people, according to a news article at Fox 13. Police officers noticed drug paraphernalia in the back seat of the 2001 Pontiac Grand Am after pulling the vehicle over, which led to a search of the car.

Upon searching, authorities found several prescription drug pills, an ounce of heroin, five ounces of meth, more than $5,000 in cash, and a large folding knife.

There were four individuals in the vehicle at the time, three men and a woman, who has not been arrested. Those arrested include 39-year-old Jeremy Saccomanno of Spring Glen, 37-year-old Jeff Andrew Vigil of Price, and 41-year-old Christopher Gill of Helper, the driver of the vehicle.

April 27, 2015

Wisconsin Woman Arrested for Drunken Driving for a Fourth Time in Restaurant Drive-Through

by Scott Grabel

On Friday, April 24, a 37-year-old Milton woman was arrested on a charge of fourth-offense drunken driving while at a restaurant drive-through window, according to a recent article at the Gazette Extra. The woman, Sara A. Henning, drove through a drive-through at Taco Bell two times when an employee suspected she was under the influence of alcohol. Police received a tip at approximately 1 a.m., and responded to the scene.

Upon their arrival, officers found the woman in the Taco Bell drive-through area located at 1619 Milton Ave. They claimed to have smelled the odor of alcohol, and administered a breath test which revealed a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) of 0.27, more than three times the legal limit of 0.08 percent. According to a news release, Hennings admitted to drinking before getting behind the wheel.

Henning was arrested on suspicion of fourth-offense drunken driving after refusing to submit to field sobriety tests. According to the article, she was not permitted to drive with a BAC of greater than 0.02, because of three prior convictions found for drunken driving more than five years ago after checking her driver’s license.

April 24, 2015

Barry Bonds’ Obstruction of Justice Conviction Overturned by San Francisco Appeals Court

by Scott Grabel

On Wednesday, April 22, Barry Bonds only conviction in a performance-enhancing drug case going back to 2003 was overturned by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco, according to a recent news article at the New York Times. Bonds was convicted of obstruction of justice in 2011 after he gave what was called a “rambling, non-responsive answer to a simple question” during a grand jury proceeding. The point in question was whether Bonds had used performance-enhancing drugs during his baseball career, an allegation that has been made against several athletes including Roger Clemens, Alex Rodriguez, and Mark McGwire.

According to the article, Bonds was put at the center of baseball’s doping debate because of his involvement in the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative scandal. While he never failed a performance-enhancing drug test for the use of steroids administered by Major League Baseball since the testing began in 2003, he was thought to be guilty by a large majority of the public. This public opinion was spurred mostly by books and news media reports that made “strong cases” that Bonds had used steroid drugs to enhance his performance on the field, although he has never admitted to it.

Ultimately, all efforts to link Bonds legally to the sports’ doping saga have failed. The opinion of the appeals court stated that “Because there is insufficient evidence that Statement C (the “rambling, non-responsive answer” mentioned above) was material, defendant’s conviction for obstruction of justice in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1503 is not supported by the record. Whatever section 1503’s scope may be in other circumstances, defendant’s conviction here must be reversed.”

April 22, 2015

Hockey Player Jarret Stoll Charged with Drug Possession at Vegas Resort

by Scott Grabel

On Friday, April 18, NHL star Jarret Stoll of the LA Kings was arrested and charged with drug possession at the swimming pool area of a Las Vegas resort, according to news reports at CNN. Stoll, who is 32 years old, was reportedly charged with possession of ecstasy, cocaine, or other controlled substances. Stoll was taken to the Clark County Detention Center, where he was later released on $5,000 bail.

An additional news article states the charges Stoll faces include possession of controlled substances including class 1, 2, 3, and 4 substances. A native of Melville, Canada, Stoll has played with the LA Kings since 2008. A spokesperson for the team said on Friday that the team was aware of the police reports, and that the organization had begun conducting an internal investigation out of concern. No further comments were made, as facts are continuing to be gathered by the Kings.

A more recent news report at CBS Sports revealed that at the time of his arrest at the Wet Republic pool at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Stoll had 8.1 grams of ecstasy and 3.3 grams of cocaine. The hockey star allegedly tried to hide the drugs while going through a security check point at the pool inside his board shorts. As of Monday, April 20, no criminal charges had been filed against Stoll by the Clark County district attorney. The LA Times reported that while a felony court return date of July 1 had been set, it had not been determined by the district attorney as to whether the case would go forward.