Misdemeanor Lawyer Sterling Heights MI

Top tier Michigan defense attorney Daniel Hilf has a sold reputation for providing a consistently aggressive defense for persons charged with misdemeanor offenses by the city of Sterling Heights, Macomb County Prosecutor's Office, or the Michigan Attorney General's office. Misdemeanor and felony criminal convictions result in a huge personal cost that in many instances deprives an individual of their liberty, educational advancement, and great employment.  When you are advised of a criminal charge against you in Sterling Heights Michigan, it is important to find a trusted defense attorney who can offer straight forward legal advice and outstanding legal representation.

Although misdemeanors are thought of by many as low severity criminal offenses, a misdemeanor conviction carries big personal lifetime consequences.  The most commonly charged misdemeanor offenses in Sterling Heights include: retail fraud (retail fraud second degree and retail fraud third degree), domestic violence, aggravated domestic violence, assault and battery, aggravated assault, driving while license suspended, revoked, or denied (DWLS), drunk driving, disorderly person, reckless driving, and leaving the scene of a property damage accident.

For misdemeanor offenses that are alleged to occur in Sterling Heights, Court proceedings are scheduled at the 41A District Court.  For most misdemeanor charges in Sterling Heights Michigan the maximum allowable penalty is anywhere from 90 days in jail to 1 year in the Macomb County Jail.  Most misdemeanor offenses do not have minimum sentences, which means that your Judge is not required by law to take away your freedom by incarcerating you, but has the discretion to so if he or she chooses.    

In addition to potential jail time, a misdemeanor conviction at the 41A District Court allows your Judge to make you serve a term of probation, which is a form of court ordered supervision to monitor you to make sure you exactly follow all the conditions of the Judge's sentence.  Probation can include a slew of unpleasant conditions that are designed to either make your life more difficult or to somehow rehabilitate you, including: reporting to a probation officer; alcohol testing; drug testing; not going to liquor stores or bars; payment of fines/costs/restitution/fees; professional counseling (mental health, domestic violence, substance abuse, anger management, etc.); take prescribed mental health medicines; prohibition on taking some legally prescribed medications (medical marijuana, some prescription medicines, etc.); perform many hours of community service;  no contact with victims, co-Defendants, or other individuals; inability of returning to certain locations (including your home if the victim lives there); tether, etc.   Failure to correctly and completely follow the Judge's ordered probationary conditions usually leads to a probation violation hearing, which can result in serving time and/or the imposition of more severe probationary conditions.

On top of all the bad things the Judge can do to you, there are some criminal convictions that have separate penalties that are dictated by Michigan and/or Federal law, which include: the imposition of restrictions, suspensions, and revocations by the Michigan Secretary of State to your ability to lawfully drive a car (DWI, OWI, Driving While License Suspended, etc.); loss of hunting and fishing licenses (certain DNR offenses); loss of ability to work in a hospital setting caring for patients (various assaultive, drug, and theft related crimes); ability to lawfully posses and/or purchase firearms (domestic violence, stalking), etc.  For persons who are not United States citizens always hire an experienced immigration lawyer because the potential US immigration law consequences can change your life for the worse.

With 2 potential exceptions, all misdemeanor offenses in Sterling Heights mandate the Defendant's appearance in front of a Judge or magistrate at the 41A District Court to address the prosecution's allegations.  One of the exceptions is something called a "plea by mail" (used by persons incarcerated in another jurisdiction, who sometimes attempt to resolve a case by sending a signed and completed plea form to the Court).  The other potential exception are offenses termed "payable misdemeanors" (offenses that are specially designated so the person who received the charge is not required to go to Court to handle it if full payment of the fine is timely made). 

The first misdemeanor Court appearance in Sterling Heights at the 41A District Court and District Courts throughout Michigan, is called an arraignment, which is a hearing where you are read the charge(s) against you, advised of the possible penalty, and a bond amount is set by a Judge or magistrate.   Generally, bond is decided by the arraigning Judge or magistrate after giving some thought to whether or not you will pose any danger to the community and whether or not you will appear in Court if released.  In addition to posting money, the Court can place very demanding conditions on your bond that make you feel like you already are on probation (drug testing, alcohol testing, tether, no contact, report to pretrial services, etc.).  If you do not comply with the Judge's orders, he or she can place you in jail for bond violation.  If facing a Judge in Sterling Heights your best choice is to immediately engage the services of a trusted criminal attorney as early as possible to advise and help you formulate the best possible defense.  Your lawyer, in many instances, is even able to "waive the arraignment" on your behalf, and schedule your case for a pretrial conference.

For all misdemeanor allegations in Sterling Heights, it is important to always remember that you have the following rights:

• the right to legal counsel that you retained to defend you or to ask for a public defender if you do not have the money to hire counsel of your choice;
• the right to be notified of the charge and the maximum consequences if convicted;
• Constitutional safeguards (presumed innocent of the allegation, prosecution has burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, right to a jury trial, right to cross examine all witnesses against you, right to subpoena witnesses to testify for you, right to remain silent, right to testify, appellate rights).

The value of your defense coincides with the quality of your attorney, because your defense is only as strong as its weakest link.  You can go with court appointed counsel that you will probably meet in Court for the very first time and hope you receive great representation or choose to hire an attorney who has the desire and fortitude to prepare your defense.  

For your Sterling Heights District Court case, there are several options that are worthy of your full consideration:

• Does my Sterling Heights attorney, who I am trusting with my criminal defense, have many years courtroom experience and success defending misdemeanor cases?;
• Does my Sterling Heights attorney, who I am trusting with my criminal defense, answer my questions and concerns in a well thought out manner?;
• Does my Sterling Heights attorney, who I am trusting with my criminal defense, have a local office, where I can schedule an appointment with my lawyer to discuss my case in private?;
• Does my Sterling Heights attorney, who I am trusting with my criminal defense, have a solid reputation in the legal community and solid reviews?;
• Does my Sterling Heights attorney, who I am trusting with my criminal defense, have legal acumen, jury trial experience, and the ability to push for the best possible results?;
• Does my Sterling Heights attorney, who I am trusting with my criminal defense, appear frequently at the Court and before my assigned Judge?;
• Does my Sterling Heights attorney, who I am trusting with my criminal defense, make payment arrangements to help me afford the lawyer's services, or accept credit card and debit card payments?.

When it comes to your consideration of Daniel Hilf as your misdemeanor defense attorney in Sterling Heights, the answer to all of these questions is an emphatic "yes".  Trustworthiness, responsiveness, zealousness, litigation prowess, diligence, being on top of his game, client loyalty, and many years of experience are descriptive terms that apply to criminal defense lawyer Daniel Hilf.  

Sterling Heights Criminal defense expert Daniel Hilf aggresively and relentlessly handles the following:

• Domestic Violence
• Probation Violation
• Other Criminal Offenses
• Sex Offenses
• Criminal Traffic
• Retail Fraud
• Drug Offenses

If you have to go to Court because of a criminal accusation in Sterling Heights, contact us immediately for help and advice.