Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog

April 18, 2014

Tampa Bay Lightning Forward Charged with DUI, Cocaine Possession

On Saturday morning April 12, Ryan Malone, Tampa Bay Lightning forward, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. In the process of his arrest, police discovered cocaine in Malone’s pants pocket, according to a recent article at USA Today.

At approximately 3 a.m., Tampa police witnessed a Chevrolet Suburban make a left-hand turn from South Armenia Avenue onto Platt Street. Malone allegedly made the left-hand turn from the center lane, then proceeded to hit a curb in the Suburban. Police pulled Malone over, and determined that he was driving while intoxicated.

The Tampa Bay forward refused to submit to a field sobriety test, but did submit to a breath test after being taken into custody. News reports indicate his BAC (blood alcohol content) was .112 and .116, higher than the state’s legal limit of 0.08. Continue reading

April 18, 2014

California Drug Trafficking Ring Busted – 11 People Arrested

by Scott Grabel

On Monday April 14, authorities in California claimed that they had “dismantled” a drug trafficking ring that smuggled cocaine and methamphetamines from Mexico for distribution to New York, Arkansas, Illinois, and other states. According to a news report at U-T San Diego, the 11 individuals who were in a group known as the Magana Drug Trafficking Organization worked with Nuestra Familia prison gang street gangs to distribute the drugs.

33-year-old Jose Pastor Magana, head of the drug organization, lives just southeast of Fresno in Dinuba; he was charged with eight counts including transportation and sale of a controlled substance and felony possession. Authorities began investigating the drug ring in the summer of 2013, when it was suspected that Magana was selling marijuana. It was revealed that in addition to marijuana, Magana was dealing in cocaine and methamphetamines.

In the course of arresting the 11 individuals, agents seized 942 marijuana plants, 56 pounds of meth, and 4 kilograms of cocaine in addition to a car and nearly $270,000 in cash. The majority of the arrested were made in Riverside and Tulare counties in California, however two were arrested in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Authorities say the individuals arrested will face similar charges to those of Magana. Continue reading

April 18, 2014

James Wilder Jr., Former Florida State Running Back, Arrested for Driving on Suspended License

by Scott Grabel

On Sunday April 13, former Florida State running back James Wilder Jr. was arrested on a bench warrant in connection with a citation he received in March in Tampa for driving with a suspended driver’s license with knowledge. He was pulled over and arrested in Tampa just before 7:30 p.m. and released approximately five hours later after posting a $1,000 bond, according to a news article at Nolesports.com.

According to a report at the Tampa Bay Times, Wilder has been cited on driver’s license violations four times. Wilder turned 22 years old on Monday.

On Monday, Wilder issued a statement saying that he was celebrating his birthday with family and friends, and that he hoped to prove that he was not only another year older, but another year wiser. Wilder went on to say that he was arrested on a warrant for missing a court date, and that he had been training in California for the NFL Combine when his driver’s license was suspended in Florida. Upon returning to Florida, Wilder said that his driver’s license was reinstated, however he did not appear for a mandatory court date. Wilder apologized, saying there is “really no excuse for missing court dates.” Continue reading

April 18, 2014

Southeast Queens DUI Crash Results in Death of Passenger, Arrest of Roosevelt Woman

by Scott Grabel

On Monday April 14, 28-year-old Sharlene Numa of Roosevelt, NY was arrested after causing a crash that resulted in the death of her passenger, 29-year-old Kendall Heard of Freeport. Numa was allegedly intoxicated at the time of the crash, and charged with DWI, manslaughter, and vehicular manslaughter according to CBS New York.

The accident occurred in southeast Queens just after 4 a.m. when Numa crashed the 2014 Infiniti she was driving into the rear of a 2012 Mercedes on the Belt Parkway. The Mercedes was being driven by an 18-year-old man who reportedly suffered only minor injuries. According to police, Numa’s Infiniti flipped in the vicinity of Brookville Blvd. and South Conduit Avenue. Heard, Numa’s passenger, was transported to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

This is a sad story with a tragic ending, not only for the passenger who lost his life, but for the driver who now faces not only charges of driving while intoxicated, but manslaughter as well. Individuals who are convicted of DUI or driving under the influence in Michigan face criminal penalties which include steep fines, possible jail time, driver’s license suspension, community service, and more. For second-time or subsequent offenses, the penalties become even harsher. However, charges of vehicular manslaughter or manslaughter are far more serious. Continue reading

April 18, 2014

Detroit Firefighter Charged with Second-Degree Murder Headed to Trial

by Scott Grabel

In February we wrote about the case of Terrill Hardaway, a 35-year-old Detroit Firefighter charged with second-degree murder in the 2012 shooting death of Tony Jackson. Now, Hardaway is headed to trial and is scheduled for a Circuit Court arraignment on April 29, according to news reports at Mlive.com.

Hardaway allegedly went to a bar on December 20 of 2012, an establishment where Jackson worked as a disc jockey. The two men became involved in an altercation when Hardaway pulled a gun and attempted to shoot Jackson. The weapon was turned over to police after being confiscated. Hardaway then went back to the Four Winds bar located on Schoolcraft nine days later; the two men got into a physical and verbal fight that was broken up by security. Hardaway and Jackson were taken outside, however the altercation continued with both men pulling out guns. Hardaway is reported to have shot Jackson numerous times, but was shot only once in the shoulder himself.

Hardaway is charged with felonious use of a firearm, and one count of second-degree murder. A motive for the shooting has not yet been revealed by prosecutors. Continue reading

April 18, 2014

19-year-old Columbus Man Denied Appeal of Conviction and Sentencing

by Scott Grabel

A 19-year-old Columbus, OH man who was convicted in July of this year on charges of felonious assault, aggravated robbery, aggravated trafficking in drugs, and other charges has had his conviction and sentencing appeal denied by the Court of Appeals of Ohio Fourth Appellate District, according to an article at Logan Daily.

Warren Love, the defendant, appealed his conviction and sentencing based on his belief that in imposing his sentence of 23 years, the trial court committed a harmful error. Love also argued that he was convicted even though there was insufficient evidence.

Bill Archer, Hocking County Assistant Prosecutor, said that Love is a “thug” who “brought his crime show” to Hocking. Love was convicted of shooting a man in the leg in January of last year during a drug deal. Apparently, the shooting victim handed over his money, but Love shot him instead of giving him the drugs he paid for. On April 10, the Court of Appeals filed a judgment which affirmed the conviction and sentencing originally handed down by the Hocking County Common Pleas Court. Continue reading

April 17, 2014

Dogs, and Cats, and Gorillas! Oh, My!

by Scott Grabel

Did you know that attorneys are also pet lovers? Some of us even have our dog join us at our office. Here’s a list of attorneys and their beloved pets, friends and coworkers:

Pluto from Tina Willis of Tina Willis Law

Pluto is the undisputed King of attorney Tina Willis’ heart. Tina apologizes to all other pet owners for her conclusion that he is the greatest animal ever to grace planet Earth (okay, at least in her eyes).

April 11, 2014

Five People Charged in Victoria’s Secret Theft Ring in Hazel Park

by Scott Grabel

Five people were recently arrested in what Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard called “the largest retail theft ring” he had even seen. The theft ring, which investigators initially thought involved drugs, turned out to be related to the theft of almost $3 million in stolen goods including Victoria’s Secret lingerie, according to a news article at Mlive.com.

Investigators received a tip regarding what was believed to be a theft ring involving methamphetamine. What investigators found upon investigating the tip included 10 trailers filled with stolen merchandise at a warehouse in Hazel Park.

Bouchard said that the well-organized crime syndicate appeared to be doing very well, and had been operating for years. According to Bouchard, the theft ring had used about $200,000 in illegal proceeds to invest in the purchase of the warehouse, a transaction that took place about nine months ago. Continue reading

April 10, 2014

Sugar Land Man Held in Custody Pending Trial for Child Pornography

by Scott Grabel

A Sugar Land, Texas man is in federal custody while he awaits trial on charges of child pornography. Glenn Casey Portwood, 52, is believed to be a danger to the community, and was ordered to remain in custody by U.S. Magistrate Judge Frances Stacy. Portwood has been charged with possession of child pornography and attempting to distribute child pornography, according to news reports.

Portwood’s home was searched in September of 2012 after officers obtained a search warrant. An FBI press release indicated that Portwood’s computer was sharing pornographic files. Authorities obtained the search warrant to search the suspect’s home and subsequently found photos and videos of child pornography on several CDs and an external hard drive, all of which were in his vehicle. The materials were confiscated.

Federal agents testified that in the videos and images, children were engaging in sex and being raped; some of the children depicted in the graphic images were toddlers and babies, according to the FBI. Court documents indicate that the defendant has a long history of criminal charges related to sex offenses, dating back to 2001. He also lives in an environment giving him access to young children. For these reasons, Judge Stacy ordered that Portwood be held in federal custody until his May 19th trial. Continue reading

April 10, 2014

21-year-old Tennessee Man Arrested for Reckless Driving, Suspended License

by Scott Grabel

Recently, 21-year-old Brett Austin Tate was arrested for driving on a suspended license; he was also arrested on charges of reckless driving twice within a four-hour time frame, according to a news article at the Times News. Tate, a resident of Bristol, Tennessee, was allegedly street racing in downtown Kingsport when he was arrested the first time. Just a few hours later, he was once again arrested for allegedly “burning out” in a daycare center’s parking lot which was said to be crowded at the time.

On a Friday afternoon, Tate and two other vehicles were speeding as they took off from a traffic signal, traveling at about 60 MPH in a 30 MPH zone, according to the Kingsport Police Department arrest report. Upon pulling Tate and one of the other drivers over, the officer found that Tate’s driver’s license had been suspended. He was arrested.

Later the same evening, Tate ran afoul of the law again after posting bond. This time in Sullivan County, Tate was arrested after allegedly performing burnouts in the parking lot of a daycare where several parents and their children were present. Reports claim that parents began taking their children, who were “infants and toddlers,” to their cars. After leaving the daycare parking lot at a high rate of speed, Tate was pulled over and arrested for reckless driving and driving on a suspended license. Because of his dangerous actions at the daycare and the presence of children and adults, Tate was also charged with reckless endangerment. Continue reading