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Royal Oak Criminal Defense Attorney

One of my favorite courts to practice in is the 44th District Court that is located in Royal Oak. The 44th District Court handles cases that arise in Royal Oak and Berkley. While I have practiced extensively in courts around Michigan, Royal Oak is considered one of my "home bases." One of my offices is located directly across the street from the Court and I have served the community myself as a prominent local leader for over 11 years. Furthermore, as a criminal defense attorney I have taken cases to jury trials and have prevailed in Royal Oak. All of this combined brings a level of respect from the Judges, prosecutors, and other court staff. My relationships with all parties in Royal Oak and Berkley is very warm, but my firm has absolutely no problem taking a case all the way and fighting as hard as needed to get a desired result. 

Because Royal Oak is a destination city for socializing, many of the cases we see are alcohol related. I have represented countless DUI and OWI clients in Royal Oak and Berkley. Other common misdemeanor charges include Public Intoxication, various driving misdemeanors such as Driving While License Suspended, Retail Fraud, Assault and Battery, and Domestic Violence to name just a few.

I also have represented many clients on serious felony charges with very good results. If your case is charged as a felony, it will begin in Royal Oak, but will eventually make its way up to the Oakland County Circuit Court that is located in Pontiac, unless the case is dismissed or there is a misdemeanor resolution. Felony cases that go to trial do not go to trial in Royal Oak but will be heard up in Circuit Court. Misdemeanor cases, on the other hand, are fully heard in Royal Oak and if there was a trial, the trial would be in Royal Oak as well. Common felony cases in Royal Oak can include, felony drunk driving, home invasion, drug crimes such as possession or delivery of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and other controlled substances, felonious assault, breaking and entering, and many others. 

While I have gotten clients many amazing outcomes in courts that I rarely practice in, there is certainly a benefit to having an attorney who is extremely familiar with a given court and knows the lay of the land well. If you are charged with a crime in Royal Oak or Berkely, it will either be handled by a local city prosecutor or by the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office. The case will either be heard by Judge Jamie Wittenberg or Judge Derek Meinecke. Both are excellent Judges though they have different styles. I have a great relationship with each and think highly of them both. Both have treated my clients very fairly in the past.

If you are facing a criminal case of any kind arising out of Royal Oak or Berkley and need a highly experienced criminal defense lawyer, call me immediately at (810) 394-2952. Barnwell Law has consistently secured excellent results out of Royal Oak and countless other courts. 

 

 

 

 

Recent Changes to the 39th District Court for Roseville and Fraser

If you are facing a criminal case in the 39th District Court, which has jurisdiction over Roseville and Fraser, there are two newer judges who have taken the bench recently. Those judges are the Honorable Alyia Hakim and the Honorable Kathleen Tocco. Prior to taking the bench, Judge Hakim's practice focused primarily on criminal defense and family law. Judge Tocco's practice primarily focused on family law. Both have proven to be effective judges upon taking the bench. The court's Chief Judge, the Honorable Joseph Boedecker, remains on the bench as well.

Barnwell Law has proven experience appearing before all three Judges for criminal matters in Roseville and Fraser. This includes, but is not limited to, misdemeanor offenses like Drunk Driving, OWI, DUI, OUIL, domestic violence, disorderly conduct, assault, larceny, embezzlement, and many other alleged offenses. Barnwell Law has also successfully represented many felony cases that have originated in the 39th District Court including, but not limited to, Felonious Assault, Felony Firearms, Felony OWI/DUI/OUIL/Drunk Driving, Felony drug crimes including alleged serious drug possession and delivery cases. This includes many drug cases such as offenses alleging possessing or distributing cocaine, methamphetamine (meth), heroin, prescription drugs like Xanax, Valium, pain killers such as oxycontin, and many others. This is not an exhaustive list. Barnwell Law has defended clients throughout Michigan, Metro-Detroit, and many other regions of the state from everything from homicide level cases down to simple misdemeanors such as Disorderly Conduct.

It is important to note that in Roseville and Fraser, just like in any other court, every Judge is different and has their own styles and philosophies. Judge Hakim is not the same as Judge Boedecker who is not the same as Judge Tocco. Our attorney William (Bill) Barnwell of Barnwell Law knows the Roseville and Fraser court system, knows the Macomb County court system, and has vast experience in counties throughout the state. This is in part why he is a top-ranked attorney by both his peers and as rated by former clients.

Note that for felony cases in Roseville and Fraser (or anywhere else), matters will first be heard in district court and if they are not dismissed in district court, cases will proceed to the Macomb County Circuit Court. Barnwell Law has likewise appeared before every single judge in Macomb County Circuit Court who handles criminal matters and has done so successfully. While no attorney can ethically guarantee an outcome for any given case, Barnwell Law fights diligently for its clients and has a record of success.

If your case is a felony, there may or may not be a chance for dismissal in District Court. Every case is unique and different and requires its own factual and legal analysis. If you are facing a criminal allegation or court case in Roseville, Fraser, Macomb County, or anywhere else in Michigan, call Barnwell Law to discuss your matter. Barnwell Law can be reached morning, day, or night at (810) 394-2952.

 

 

Royal Oak Drug, Alcohol, DUI, OWI Offenses

Royal Oak is a popular Metro-Detroit destination for bars, parties, and fun. Unfortunately, this also means a high number of people in Royal Oak and Berkely charged with offenses such as drunk driving, OWI, DUI, possession of marijuana, disorderly conduct, public intoxication, and other related offenses. The 44th District Court, located in Royal Oak, hears all cases that originate in the cities of Royal Oak and Berkley. Too add perspective, Royal Oak is roughly half the population of the city of Warren but has roughly the same amount of drunk driving, DUI, and OWI cases. And it has more public intoxication and drunken disorderly cases than larger cities. Royal Oak hears many of these cases, and will frequently attached much more stringent penalties than other cities. In many cases, these charges can stick on your permanent record, but there are times when a deal can be negotiated to keep to get a dismissal after a term of probation, if the case is not suitable for a jury trial or bench trial. Even if a person receives probation, not all probations are built equally. Some are manageable, and some can be very time-consuming. Also, depending upon a person's record and the circumstances of the case, jail can be possible in these cases. For these and many other reasons, don't take these charges lightly. Hire an attorney who is extremely familiar with the 44th District Court which covers Royal Oak and Berkley in Oakland County. Being charged with drunk driving, DUI, OWI, OUIL, or whatever other term one wants to call it, is a very scary situation for anyone involved. It’s why you need an experienced criminal defense attorney that will take your case very seriously from start to finish. This is true whether your case is originating out of Royal Oak, MI, Berkley, MI, Oakland County, or anywhere else in Michigan.  There are several different types of Drunk Driving cases:

  1. DUI or OWI first offense– This carries with it a maximum possible penalty of 93 days in jail, fines, costs, and driver’s license sanctions.
  2. DUI or OWI second offense — This can get confusing. If you have been charged with a second DUI or OWI offense in a 7 year time-frame you will face a 2nd offense. This carries a possibility of up to one year in the county jail, with a mandatory minimum of 5 days in jail, fines, costs, and a mandatory license revocation for one-year. However, if you pick up a second DUI or OWI charge in Warren or Macomb County (or anywhere else in Michigan) outside of the seven year window it will be charged as a first offense, but the court will view it for all practical purposes as a second offense. Meaning they might not be able to impose as much jail time or as stringent license sanctions, but they can and will make your life very difficult if you don’t handle the case correctly.
  3. DUI or OWI third offense — This is where matters can get very serious. A third offense at any point in a person’s lifetime is a mandatory felony. Even if the offenses are spaced apart by 10 or 20 years each. For a felony drunk driving or OWI and DUI offense, there is a mandatory minimum of 30 days in the county jail and up to 5 years in the state prison, along with fines, costs, license sanctions, etc.
  4. There’s also what is known as a “High BAC” drunk driving and DUI/OWI charge. In Michigan, the legal limit for intoxication is .08. A level of .17 is considered a “High BAC” offense or what is commonly known as “super-drunk.” The higher the BAC, the more concerned the court is going to be. A High BAC or superdrunk charge carries a maximum of 180 days in the county jail (even for a first offense), fines, costs, license sanctions, etc.
  5. Here’s another secret many people don’t realize: You don’t have to be at a .08 to be arrested for drunk driving. If you have anyamount of alcohol in your system, and an officer subjectively determines you are impaired by the alcohol, you can be charged with something called Operating While Visibly Impaired. Our firm has seen individuals with BAC counts as low as .03 charged with OWVI. An OWVI charge carries with it a maximum of 93 days in jail, fines, costs, and license sanctions.
  6. A person can also be charged with Operating Under the Influence of Drugs. For instance, if a person has any amount of marijuana or other drug in their system, even a mere 2 nanograms, and an officer finds this through a blood draw, a person can be charged with drunk driving — even if they were not even objectively impaired! These types of cases often times require the assistance of expert witnesses, but they can be beat.

All of the above doesn’t even begin to get into the collateral consequences of license restrictions for these various offenses, and possible vehicle immobilization, interlock devices, driver responsibility fees, and other consequences which we will cover in future posts. The point is this: Drunk driving charges are taken very seriously. If are being charged in the 44th District Court or any city or county in Michigan, you need an attorney who is familiar with that court system and handling DUI cases. Even a first offense can result in jail in certain jurisdictions in Michigan. In Oakland County, jail is not just possible, but likely in before certain Judges, such as an infamous court in Birmingham, MI. However, jail is often avoided in Royal Oak for first offenders, and sometimes even second-offenders. Jail can even be avoided on a “Super-drunk” or High BAC case with an effective defense. On a second offense, many courts will impose the statutory minimum of 5 days in jail. Certain courts in Oakland County will waive the five days in lieu of community service. On a third offense, 30 days of county jail is a guarantee unless in very rare cases where it can be pled down to a 2nd offense. But there is a big difference between 30 days and five years, which is why a strong defense is so critically important. DUI and drunk driving defense is a category all unto itself in criminal law. An effective criminal defense attorney does not automatically assume their client is guilty. They can and should get all relevant discovery. This includes police dash cam videos, records of the DataMaster calibration logs used to determine a person’s BAC, understand the science behind blood and breath testing, investigate whether police were justified in the stop, have expert witnesses available to challenge the blood and breath evidence, etc. Bill Barnwell of Barnwell Law takes all of those measures, including looking at any other applicable defenses (i.e. whether the defendant was actually operating the vehicle under the law). If your case can be beat through a challenge of the evidence, or through a jury trial, our firm will go the extra mile and fight for an acquittal. However, the vast majority of DUI cases result in a plea. This isn’t because a good defense attorney is lazy. It’s because they have gone through all the possible evidentiary challenges and have determined that your DUI or OWI case is best handled as a “damage control” case. This still requires much hard work to secure a favorable outcome. Many attorneys will just advise their clients to go to AA while their case is pending. Our Attorney has years of experience in the field of counseling and mental health, including helping those with addictions. By employing the Barnwell Defense, your case will have a far better chance at securing a favorable outcome than by employing a standard “Meet em’ and plead em” defense. If you are going to pay your hard earned money to hopefully maintain your freedom and driving privileges, spend your money on an attorney who knows how to both handle a successful jury trial and do proper damage control if your case is best suited for a plea. Your case will either be heard by Judge James Wittenberg or Judge Derek Meinecke. If your case is being charged by either the city of Royal Oak or Berkley, a local city attorney will prosecute the case. Our attorney has an excellent relationship with Prosecutors on all ends. He also has a record of jury trial victory, favorable pleas, dismissals, successful probation violation proceedings, and other positive outcomes. Bill Barnwell is a respected attorney in Royal Oak, Oakland County, and throughout Michigan. Call Bill at (810) 394-2952 to discuss your drunk driving, DUI, OWI, or any other criminal law or criminal defense matter. roayl oak

Does Marijuana Equal Jail In Port Huron and St. Clair County?

With marijuana likely to be legalized in the upcoming November election, are people STILL actually going to jail for non-violent pot possession cases in Port Huron and St. Clair County?

The short answer is yes.

The purpose of this blog is not to talk about what should be true, but what is true. Now, is it likely that a first-offender is likely to go to jail for possession of marijuana in the 72nd District Court? Not likely. But it still has to be treated as a real concern. More likely, and a bigger concern, is when somebody is put on probation for possession of marijuana and violates their probation in some way, particularly by using again. In such a case, depending on what Judge a person draws, jail time becomes a more significant concern.

Furthermore, under state law, possession of marijuana is a one-year misdemeanor. To put in perspective, that is the same maximum penalty for aggravated assault. An aggravated assault is more than a simple assault and results in more serious injuries. Yet on paper, causing a person an aggravated injury after an illegal battery carries the same maximum penalty as merely having marijuana. Not dealing it. Not pushing it on other people. Just possessing it. Even if the possession is arguably beneficial for somebody who doesn't have a Michigan Medical Marijuana card.

If you think the law is ridiculous, so do I. But again, I have to deal with what the law actually is, not what I and many others think it should be.

Recently I represented two different people in Port Huron on probation violation misdemeanors. One individual was facing their first violation on a possession of marijuana charge. They tested positive for pot several months into probation.

The probation office recommended one year in the St. Clair County Jail and closing the file.

Judges put weight on recommendations of their probation office and it is not at all unheard of for such sentences to be handed out. While this may not be common in other cities and jurisdictions, it can and does happen here. Thankfully I was able to convince a skeptical judge against adopting that proposal and giving my client (another) chance.

All this to say that even "small" cases like this cannot be blown off and require the services of an experienced criminal defense attorney.

Even after the law likely changes, there will still be provisions where people can be charged with illegal possession of marijuana. The ballot proposal does not apply to people under 21. People on probation will generally not be allowed to use marijuana, even if they have a medical card, except in rare circumstances. Also, just as the law is now, people will not be able to operate a motor vehicle after consuming marijuana. Prosecutors can charge such cases several different ways such as Operating While Intoxicated (OWI, DUI), Operating while in the Presence of a Controlled Substance, or Operating Under the Influence of Drugs. Absurdly, under current Michigan law, a person does not even need to be impaired if a blood draw reveals there was marijuana in their body while driving. All that needs to be proven was that any amount, even a minuscule amount, was present.

Think such cases don't get charged? They do. I'm defending such cases right now.

This is just a surface level review of one area of criminal law. Many people do not understand our laws and understandably are frustrated by them. Public policy still is driven in large part by misinformation. Which is all the more reason you or your friends or loved ones need strong representation if anyone has been charged with a drug or alcohol crime such as possession of marijuana, intent to deliver, possession of analogues, OWI, DUI, drunk driving, or any other criminal offense that requires an experienced defense attorney.

For help in Port Huron and St. Clair County (Which includes Marysville, Fort Gratiot, Marine City, and all other cities in the county) in the 72nd District Court or the 31st Circuit Court for all felonies and misdemeanors contact Bill Barnwell of Barnwell Law directly at 810-394-295272ndDistrict

The 43rd District Court, Madison Heights, Ferndale, and Hazel Park -- All Misdemeanors and Felonies

If you have been charged with a misdemeanor or felony offense in the 43rd District Court, your case will be heard in one of the three branches of the 43rd District Court that exist in Ferndale, Madison Heights, or Hazel Park. Depending on where the offense was alleged to have occurred will determine which branch of the 43rd District Court will hear your case.

The 43rd District Court of Ferndale, Madison Heights, and Hazel Park is located in Oakland County. Oakland County is considered to be one of the "toughest" Counties in the state for criminal defendants. The presiding Judge in Ferndale is Judge Joseph Longo. The presiding Judge in Madison Heights is Judge Keith Hunt, and the presiding Judge in Hazel Park is Judge Charles Goedert. Many attorneys and defendants consider these "tough" Judges, and some attorneys will not practice in certain wings of the 43rd District Court. However, attorney William (Bill) Barnwell of Barnwell Law, PLLC has represented numerous clients in Ferndale, Hazel Park, and Madison Heights and is not afraid of these Courts and is happy to take your case and provide you with a top-notch defense.

Barnwell Law has represented individuals accused of various misdemeanors and felonies in these courts including DUI, OWI, other alcohol-related offenses, Indecent Exposure, Disorderly Conduct, drug crimes, Home Invasion, Breaking and Entering, Resisting Arrest (alleged offenses against the police), Driving While License Suspended, traffic matters, Assault, Battery, Domestic Violence, and a host of other offenses that range from serious felonies, to lower level misdemeanors. This list is not exhaustive, but our attorney has successfully represented numerous individuals before all three Judges and Courts of various misdemeanor and felony allegations.

If you are facing a misdemeanor, such as Retail Fraud in the 3rd or 2nd Degree, your case will stay in the 43rd District Court in Ferndale, Madison Heights, or Hazel Park (depending on where the crime was alleged to have occurred). If you are being charged with any felony, whether it is drug or alcohol related (substances such as heroin, cocaine, meth, mushrooms, marijuana, a 3rd Drunk Driving/DUI/OWI offense, etc), a property offense such as felony larceny or embezzlement, home invasion, breaking and entering, a homicide or murder related allegation, etc, then your case will begin in Ferndale, Madison Heights, or Hazel Park, and if not dismissed at your Probable Cause Hearing, traditionally known as a Preliminary Exam, the case will proceed to the Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac.

It can not be emphasized enough how "tough" the Courts can be in the 43rd District and Oakland County overall. This is why you need an attorney experienced not only with Criminal Law, but each branch of the 43rd District, as well as the 6th Circuit Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac if you are facing a felony. Our attorney is not afraid to take your case to trial in any of these Courts. He has a winning trial record across Michigan and Metro-Detroit for various misdemeanor and felony trials, as well as a well-documented record of success for clients who do not want to take their cases to trial, but instead desire to work out some other favorable form of resolution.

If you have been charged with an offense anywhere in Oakland County, such as with the 43rd District Court's jurisdiction of Ferndale, Hazel Park, or Madison Heights, or a felony case that will ultimately be heard in the Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac, it is essential that you call Bill Barnwell of Barnwell Law today.

Our attorney is on call 24/7 and will take your call in your time of need, or respond to your message as soon as possible. Our attorney is also an exclusive criminal defense attorney who has been highly ranked by his peers, the overall legal community, and countless previous clients.

Call Bill of Barnwell Law, PLLC today at (810) 394-2952 to schedule your consultation.

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Aggravated Indecent Exposure/Indecent Exposure

In my practice, I have defended a number of cases involving Indecent Exposure or Aggravated Indecent Exposure. Recently I had positive resolutions in the felony cases of Aggravated Indecent Exposure case in St. Clair County, Macomb County, Oakland County and Wayne County. These cases originated out of Port Huron, Warren, Ferndale, and Detroit. I have handled these types of cases in multiple counties and other cities as well. The difference between the two cases are significant. An "Aggravated" offense carries a two-year maximum penalty and is treated in a procedural fashion as a felony. A regular Indecent Exposure is a serious misdemeanor that carries up to one-year in the county jail.

Depending upon certain prior offenses, a conviction for Indecent Exposure or Aggravated Indecent exposure could land a client on the SORA Registry (Sex Offender Registry Act).
Most Courts and Probation offices look at any offense involving sexuality with a particular ire. Sometimes these types of cases can be wrongly charged. Other times, client's might be dealing with tough issues that bring them to a point where they act out in ways where they otherwise wouldn't have acted out.

With years of experience as a counselor and non-profit leader, I've learned never to judge people who have made mistakes, who are contrite, and are willing to take responsibility.

The bottom line is many Indecent cases can be beat if the Prosecution cannot meet their burden of proof.

But many other times, the Prosecution has a strong case. And I, as the defense attorney, have to assist the client in getting the help they need to avoid a jail term.

Also, for many offenders, sometimes the case can be wiped off a client's public record after a successful term of probation.

Many possibilities exist depending upon the facts and circumstances. The "Barnwell Defense" will be able to judge what is the best approach. Call an attorney who not only has experience with these cases, but will look at you as a human being, and not condemn you. An attorney who will help paint a broader picture to the Court that the police report and Probation Department often don't see.

If you are facing a charge of Indecent or Aggravated Indecent Exposure, contact Barnwell Law today at (810) 394-2952 for your free consultation and to begin formulating an effective defense.

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Charged with a DUI or OWI in Warren or Macomb County?

Being charged with drunk driving, DUI, OWI, OUIL, or whatever other term one wants to call it, is a very scary situation for anyone involved. It's why you need an experienced criminal defense attorney that will take your case very seriously from start to finish. This is true whether your case is originating out of Warren, MI, Macomb County, or anywhere else in Michigan.  There are several different types of Drunk Driving cases:

  1. DUI or OWI first offense-- This carries with it a maximum possible penalty of 93 days in jail, fines, costs, and driver's license sanctions.
  2. DUI or OWI second offense -- This can get confusing. If you have been charged with a second DUI or OWI offense in a 7 year time-frame you will face a 2nd offense. This carries a possibility of up to one year in the county jail, with a mandatory minimum of 5 days in jail, fines, costs, and a mandatory license revocation for one-year. However, if you pick up a second DUI or OWI charge in Warren or Macomb County (or anywhere else in Michigan) outside of the seven year window it will be charged as a first offense, but the court will view it for all practical purposes as a second offense. Meaning they might not be able to impose as much jail time or as stringent license sanctions, but they can and will make your life very difficult if you don't handle the case correctly.
  3. DUI or OWI third offense -- This is where matters can get very serious. A third offense at any point in a person's lifetime is a mandatory felony. Even if the offenses are spaced apart by 10 or 20 years each. For a felony drunk driving or OWI and DUI offense, there is a mandatory minimum of 30 days in the county jail and up to 5 years in the state prison, along with fines, costs, license sanctions, etc.
  4. There's also what is known as a "High BAC" drunk driving and DUI/OWI charge. In Michigan, the legal limit for intoxication is .08. A level of .17 is considered a "High BAC" offense or what is commonly known as "super-drunk." The higher the BAC, the more concerned the court is going to be. A High BAC or superdrunk charge carries a maximum of 180 days in the county jail (even for a first offense), fines, costs, license sanctions, etc.
  5. Here's another secret many people don't realize: You don't have to be at a .08 to be arrested for drunk driving. If you have any amount of alcohol in your system, and an officer subjectively determines you are impaired by the alcohol, you can be charged with something called Operating While Visibly Impaired. Our firm has seen individuals with BAC counts as low as .03 charged with OWVI. An OWVI charge carries with it a maximum of 93 days in jail, fines, costs, and license sanctions.
  6. A person can also be charged with Operating Under the Influence of Drugs. For instance, if a person has any amount of marijuana or other drug in their system, even a mere 2 nanograms, and an officer finds this through a blood draw, a person can be charged with drunk driving -- even if they were not even objectively impaired! These types of cases often times require the assistance of expert witnesses, but they can be beat.

All of the above doesn't even begin to get into the collateral consequences of license restrictions for these various offenses, and possible vehicle immobilization, interlock devices, driver responsibility fees, and other consequences which we will cover in future posts.

The point is this: Drunk driving charges are taken very seriously. If are being charged in Warren, Macomb County, or any city or county in Michigan, you need an attorney who is familiar with that court system and handling DUI cases. Even a first offense can result in jail in certain jurisdictions in Michigan. In Macomb County, jail is possible, but unlikely with a strong defense (Note: Certain district courts in Oakland County and other areas are willing to impose jail on a first offense). Jail can even be avoided on a "Super-drunk" or High BAC case with an effective defense. On a second offense, many courts will impose the statutory minimum of 5 days in jail. Certain courts in Macomb County will waive the five days in lieu of community service. On a third offense, 30 days of county jail is a guarantee unless in very rare cases where it can be pled down to a 2nd offense. But there is a big difference between 30 days and five years, which is why a strong defense is so critically important.

DUI and drunk driving defense is a category all unto itself in criminal law. An effective criminal defense attorney does not automatically assume their client is guilty. They can and should get all relevant discovery. This includes police dash cam videos, records of the DataMaster calibration logs used to determine a person's BAC, understand the science behind blood and breath testing, investigate whether police were justified in the stop, have expert witnesses available to challenge the blood and breath evidence, etc.

Bill Barnwell of Barnwell Law takes all of those measures, including looking at any other applicable defenses (i.e. whether the defendant was actually operating the vehicle under the law). If your case can be beat through a challenge of the evidence, or through a jury trial, our firm will go the extra mile and fight for an acquittal.

However, the vast majority of DUI cases result in a plea. This isn't because a good defense attorney is lazy. It's because they have gone through all the possible evidentiary challenges and have determined that your DUI or OWI case is best handled as a "damage control" case. This still requires much hard work to secure a favorable outcome. Many attorneys will just advise their clients to go to AA while their case is pending. Our Attorney has years of experience in the field of counseling and mental health, including helping those with addictions. By employing the Barnwell Defense, your case will have a far better chance at securing a favorable outcome than by employing a standard "Meet em' and plead em" defense.

If you are going to pay your hard earned money to hopefully maintain your freedom and driving privileges, spend your money on an attorney who knows how to both handle a successful jury trial and do proper damage control if your case is best suited for a plea.

Each Judge in Warren  in the 37th District Court, and every other District Court and Circuit Court in Macomb County has their own style of handling cases. Our Attorney has appeared in front of every single one of them. Call Bill Barnwell of Barnwell Law today at (810) 394-2952 to discuss your drunk driving, DUI, OWI, or any other criminal law or criminal defense matter.

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Top Flint and Genesee County Felony and Misdemeanor Attorney

As a criminal defense attorney whose practice focuses solely on criminal law and criminal defense, Barnwell Law, PLLC is well-known in many counties throughout Michigan, including Genesee County.

If you’ve been charged with a misdemeanor offense in Genesee County such as DUI, OWI, or drunk driving, or a felony, you are likely very concerned and want excellent defense representation. Genesee County, Flint, and many cities inside Genesee County see a lot of drug and alcohol related cases. Other common misdemeanors in Genesee County and most other courts are drug crimes, including misdemeanor offenses such as possession of marijuana, driving while license suspended, retail fraud, assault, assault and battery, and various other misdemeanor offenses.

Far more serious is felony offenses such as possession of drugs, including heroin, cocaine, and other recreational drugs such as ecstasy, methamphetamine, commonly known as meth, and prescription drugs that are unlawfully obtained. These can be prescription drugs like Vicodin, Xanax, Oxycontin, and various opioid drugs including painkillers.  Possessing these prescription drugs can result in charges such as Possession of Analogues. Other offenses can include Maintaining a Drug House, and various other drug crimes.

Far more serious than drug possession cases, are Distributing and Manufacturing cases. These can carry prison sentences of 7 years, 20 years, or more depending on the substance and the offense. These are much more serious charges than possession charges, but even possession charges are very serious. For instance, possessing any amount of methamphetamine or meth is a maximum penalty of 10 years in state prison.

There are a host of other commonly charged offenses that range from retail fraud, larceny, embezzlement, home invasion, breaking and entering, criminal sexual conduct, sex crimes, homicide, murder, and many other misdemeanors and felonies.  It is important to note that even in major allegations of murder and homicide, defenses exist and a skilled defense attorney is needed for these offenses that can result in life in prison. Sex Crimes, such as allegations of First Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, 2nd Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, 3rd Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, and 4th Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct can be beat. People can be falsely accused. Despite popular perception, there are instances of people wrongfully accused of rape, criminal sexual conduct, and other forms of alleged sex crimes.

The city of Flint has one of the highest homicide rates per percentage of population in the United States. Those accused of violent crimes are sometimes wrongfully accused. But every single accused individual, regardless of how severe the charges or allegations, deserves a dedicated defense and criminal justice attorney. Genesee County has a high rate of alleged felony crimes, and Barnwell Law defends any and all kind of felony cases, as well as misdemeanors.

Our attorney is also a top-rated attorney who has received the highest marks from various attorney review sites. So don’t just take our word for it. Read what actual clients have had to say and the various awards our attorney has received. According to AVVO, a reputable attorney-rating and review site, Bill Barnwell is a 10 rated attorney — the highest rating an attorney can receive. 

Our attorney has handled high-profile cases in Flint and Genesee County. Cities inside Genesee County include: Flint, Grand Blanc, Burton, Clio, Davison, Flushing, Swartz Creek, Mount Morris, Linden, Grand Blanc Township, Genesee, Goodrich, Flint Township, Montrose, Otisville, Fenton Township, Mount Morris Township, Atlas Township, Davison Township, Mundy Township, Gaines, Argentine Township, Vienna Township, Thetford Township, Flushing Township, Clayton Township, Gaines Township, Montrose Township, and Forest Township.

Felony cases in Genesee Township are heard at the 7th Circuit Court in downtown Flint. All felony cases begin in District Court and most are eventually "bound over" to Circuit Court. Misdemeanor cases remain in District Court. The District Courts inside of Genesee County are heard within the 67th District Court. The 67th District Court has branches in Flint, Fenton, Flushing, Grand Blanc, Burton, Mt. Morris, and Davison.

While Flint and Genesee County are considered to have high crime rates, many defendants are unable to afford a lawyer of their choosing. But with skilled and experience defense counsel, you will have a dedicated advocate and defense attorney at your side whether you are facing any kind of misdemeanor or felony. It is worth the money, and you get what you pay for.

It is important to note that Barnwell Law has a state-wide presence and has practiced all throughout Michigan and delivered solid results for clients state-wide.  Genesee County is just one of the many counties that our attorney Bill (William) Barnwell has regular experience fighting for clients. But our attorney has actually lived in Genesee County and has strong roots as a non-profit community leader and now as a top defense attorney and criminal defense attorney for the people of Flint and all throughout Genesee County. And he gets results.

If you are facing a misdemeanor or felony charge in Flint or Genesee County or anywhere else in Michigan, be sure to contact Barnwell Law today at (810) 394-2952. Our attorney is on call 24 hours a day and for emergencies. Retain a respected attorney with results who enjoys advocating for his clients. A private and secure office space is located in Flint to consult with you regarding your case.

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Top Oakland County Felony and Misdemeanor Attorney

As a criminal defense attorney whose practice focuses solely on criminal law and criminal defense, Barnwell Law, PLLC is well-known in many counties throughout Michigan, including Oakland County.

If you've been charged with a misdemeanor offense in Oakland County such as DUI, OWI, or drunk driving, Oakland County is one of the toughest counties in the state as it relates to alcohol charges, and criminal charges in general. In fact, in certain District Courts, jail is a very real possibility, even for first-time offenders. This is why it is extremely important to hire a skilled criminal defense attorney who knows how each District Court operates. This includes offenses such as Disorderly Conduct, Drunken Disorderly Conduct, Jostling, Public Urination, and other offenses that are often connected with alcohol or substance abuse.

Other common misdemeanors in Oakland County and most other courts are drug crimes, including misdemeanor offenses such as possession of marijuana, driving while license suspended, retail fraud, assault, assault and battery, and various other misdemeanor offenses.

Far more serious is felony offenses such as possession of drugs, including heroin, cocaine, and other recreational drugs such as ecstasy, methamphetamine, commonly known as meth, and prescription drugs that are unlawfully obtained. These can be prescription drugs like Vicodin, Xanax, Oxycontin, and various opioid drugs including painkillers.  Possessing these prescription drugs can result in charges such as Possession of Analogues. Other offenses can include Maintaining a Drug House, and various other drug crimes.

Far more serious than drug possession cases, are Distributing and Manufacturing cases. These can carry prison sentences of 7 years, 20 years, or more depending on the substance and the offense. These are much more serious charges than possession charges, but even possession charges are very serious. For instance, possessing any amount of methamphetamine or meth is a maximum penalty of 10 years in state prison.

There are a host of other commonly charged offenses that range from retail fraud, larceny, embezzlement, home invasion, breaking and entering, criminal sexual conduct, sex crimes, homicide, murder, and many other misdemeanors and felonies.  It is important to note that even in major allegations of murder and homicide, defenses exist and a skilled defense attorney is needed for these offenses that can result in life in prison. Sex Crimes, such as allegations of First Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, 2nd Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, 3rd Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, and 4th Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct can be beat. People can be falsely accused. In fact, our attorney has successfully defended people in Oakland County wrongly accused of sex crimes.

The good new is Barnwell Law has a record of winning jury trials in Oakland County, and countless other favorable outcomes for clients who resolved there cases short of a trial. Our attorney has handled routine cases and many high profile cases and you can learn more about the "Barnwell Defense" here. 

Our attorney is also a top-rated attorney who has received the highest marks from various attorney review sites. So don't just take our word for it. Read what actual clients have had to say and the various awards our attorney has received. According to AVVO, a reputable attorney-rating and review site, Bill Barnwell is a 10 rated attorney -- the highest rating an attorney can receive. 

Our attorney has practiced in every District Court in Oakland County, including Oakland County Circuit Court. This includes District Courts in Royal Oak, Troy, Novi, Rochester Hills, Hazel Park, Madison Heights, Ferndale, Oak Park, Southfield, Pontiac, Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham, Berkley, Waterford, and Farmington Hills. In fact, if you visit our webpage, you can see a breakdown of each District Court in Oakland County. Here is an example of our Oakland County Circuit Court page. 

The important point is this: Oakland County is tough. But with skilled and experience defense counsel, you will have a dedicated advocate and defense attorney at your side whether you are facing any kind of misdemeanor or felony.

It is important to note that Barnwell Law has a state-wide presence and has practiced all throughout Michigan and delivered solid results for clients state-wide. Oakland is just one of the many counties that our attorney Bill (William) Barnwell has regular experience fighting for clients. But our attorney knows Oakland County and the ins and outs of the system.

If you are facing a misdemeanor or felony charge in Oakland County or anywhere else in Michigan, be sure to contact Barnwell Law today at (810) 394-2952. Our attorney is on call 24 hours a day and for emergencies. Retain a respected attorney with results who enjoys advocating for his clients.

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Oakland

Roseville Felony and Misdemeanor Attorney 39th District Court

If you've been charged with a misdemeanor or felony in Roseville or Fraser in Macomb County, contact top-rated attorney Bill Barnwell of Barnwell Law, PLLC today directly at (810) 394-2952. Our attorney is on call 24/7 for criminal law related emergencies and case evaluations.

Cases originating out of both the cities of Roseville and Fraser are heard in the 39th District Court located at 29733 Gratiot Ave, Roseville, MI 48066. If your case is being charged by either the City of Roseville or the City of Fraser, it will be prosecuted by a local City Attorney. If your case is a felony case, or certain misdemeanors, it will be prosecuted by the State of Michigan through either the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office or the Michigan Attorney General's office.

As explained elsewhere on this page, all cases begin with an arraignment. You can learn more about an arraignment and why it is important to retain an attorney before your arraignment, if possible. If you've already been arraigned, you can still retain your own attorney, even if the court has already appointed you an attorney. The general process of a criminal case in Roseville or Fraser is also explained here. 

Common charges in Roseville, Fraser and the 39th District Court are cases such as OWI, DUI, drunk driving, retail fraud, driving while license suspended, petty larceny or embezzlement charges, and a host of other misdemeanors that can be charged under local or state law. As of this writing, marijuana is still illegal to possess in Michigan. Many individuals are still charged with Possession of Marijuana, which under state law is a one-year misdemeanor. Even if somebody has a Michigan Medical Marijuana Card, they can still face misdemeanor charges of Illegal Transport, if they don't allegedly properly comply with the law (MMMA). Still worse, many card-holders can find themselves charged with felony Distributing and Manufacturing if they allegedly distribute their product unlawfully.

Drug cases account for many misdemeanor and felony cases in Roseville and Fraser and throughout the Metro-Detroit area and the entire state. It is illegal to possess drugs such as marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine, methamphetamine (meth), crack, heroin, "magic mushrooms," and other popular recreational drugs. The same is true for illegally possessing prescription drugs such as Xanax, Vicodin, and other common controlled substances that are illegal to possess without a valid prescription.

Even worse than a possession charge is a charge of Distributing and Manufacturing. In fact, a person doesn't even have to sell a drug to be charged with this offense. If an individual gives a "sample" of cocaine, for instance, to an undercover officer, they are now facing a 20-year distributing charge rather than a 4-year possession charge. Currently, Roseville, Fraser, and surrounding areas have a heroin epidemic. Many individuals are being charged with possession of heroin or distributing heroin. Any drug related charge of any nature must be taken extremely seriously.

Under state law, there are any number of felonies a person can be charged with. These felonies can include larceny of a motor vehicle, criminal sexual conduct, CSC, sex crimes, internet crimes, and a host of other felonies. If you've been contacted by law enforcement do not speak without an attorney present. If you've been charged with a misdemeanor or felony or any kind, it is essential that you retain and hire a top-rated criminal defense attorney immediately.

Barnwell Law has extensive experience in the 39th District Court in Roseville. This includes both misdemeanor case dismissals and dismissals of felonies at the preliminary examination stage. Every single misdemeanor or felony case is unique and complex based on it's own set of facts. So whether you've been charged with retail fraud, a DUI, OWI, drunk driving, a criminal sexual conduct sex crime charge, or any other offense, contact our attorney today.

Even if you have committed an offense, it may still be possible to keep the charge off your public record. And if your case cannot be proven or you have been wrongfully charged, our attorney has a winning record of Not Guilty verdicts before various juries.

Call anytime at (810) 394-2952. Your future and even freedom hangs in the balance. Hire an attorney that sees you not just as business, but who will care for you as a person and fight for you. image1