Michigan’s Premier Criminal Defense Law Firm
Professional Michigan Criminal Defense Lawyers Providing Aggressive Legal Representation In All Felony and Misdemeanor Criminal Charges in Federal and State Court
The criminal lawyers with LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. are equipped with all the necessary legal knowledge and experience to give you the strongest possible defense, no matter what charges you are facing. Whether you are an adult or juvenile defendant that has been accused of OWI, DUI or drunk driving, a sex crime, domestic violence or other assaultive crime, a drug charge, a fraud crime, embezzlement, a weapons charge or any other criminal charge, we will always treat you with respect and fight to protect your freedom.
Our firm is unique in the sense that we will take the time to patiently listen to you and fully and extensively review your criminal case. Violence charges, theft charges, white-collar charges, or any other criminal violation or criminal accusation are all our areas of expertise. We know these are stressful times and our criminal defense firm will do all we can to provide you with emotional support as well as the strong, fearless defense that you need. While no criminal attorney can ethically promise any outcome, our promise is to provide you with a knowledgeable legal staff that will give you endless effort and determination to get you the results you want. We take pride in our well-known track record of getting the best possible results for our clients – no matter how severe the alleged crime.
Our experienced criminal defense lawyers combine their full knowledge of the law with a determination to get you a great result. On top of that, we are committed to dedicating all the time and resources necessary to provide you with the best defense possible. Choosing the right attorney to represent you on your alcohol related crime, violent crime, white collar crime, alcohol crime or drug crime, federal crime, felony charge, or an extremely serious sex crime allegation, is crucial for your future, and we strive to earn your confidence by putting talented attorneys to work hard for you. We do whatever it takes to ensure your freedom.
If you've been wrongly convicted, we can appeal the verdict. If you have been wrongfully accused, we can defend you during the pre-file investigations. Don’t settle for a deal with the prosecutor or with a detective because you don’t know your rights! You will regret it. The law is often baffling and confusing to outsiders, but a highly qualified criminal defense attorney from LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. has the knowledge and experience to handle any criminal situation. We constantly work and negotiate with judges and prosecutors, and that experience lets us present your case in the strongest possible way and negotiate your best interests using an aggressive attack plan that other firms and solo-practice criminal defense attorneys in Michigan can't match.
In addition to defending against ALL state criminal cases, our experience extends to federal defense, juvenile defense, pre-file investigation defense, probation violations, violation of parole, appeals and expungements as well.
Pre-Charge Investigation and Consultation
If you've been contacted by law enforcement, or you are being accused of a crime but no charges have been filed yet, YOU NEED OUR IMMEDIATE HELP! This is the single most important time for a criminal attorney to get involved. In many cases it is easier to prevent a criminal charge from being filed than it is to win in court if you are charged. This is why it is so crucial to have a criminal defense lawyer by your side as soon as you are accused of a serious crime. In particular, sex crimes, white-collar crimes such as theft or embezzlement, hit and run, and juvenile crimes are great candidates for an out-of-court resolution if you act quickly enough. Our criminal attorneys are well experienced in handling pre-file investigations, and we have been very successful in negotiating informal resolutions before the case gets into the hands of a prosecutor.
DUI, OWI, OWIN, DWI – Drunk Driving or Drugged Driving
A Michigan OWI conviction could mean severe consequences including fines, a driver's license suspension, drivers responsibility fees, community service, counseling, and even jail or prison time. Being arrested for OWI in Michigan is a serious legal issue. You need to contact an experienced OWI attorney immediately in order to build a good defense strategy in your case. The OWI attorneys with LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. know Michigan OWI laws and represent clients charged with Oakland County OWI, Macomb County OWI, Washtenaw County OWI, Wayne County OWI, Livingston County OWI and OWI charges throughout the State of Michigan. There is simply no higher goal to Lewis & Dickstein, P.L.L.C. than an outright dismissal or substantial reduction in charges if possible.
Domestic Violence or Spouse Abuse
The Michigan Domestic Violence Defense lawyers with LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. are dedicated to the passionate, tenacious and compassionate representation of those charged with domestic violence, and other related charges, in the various courts throughout Michigan. Collectively, we have almost 40 years of experience successfully defending against domestic violence allegations in Michigan and we are adept at handling all aspects of domestic violence cases. We know that the consequences to clients and their families due to domestic violence allegations can be life changing in a tragic way. We stop at nothing in order to protect our clients from being over prosecuted, falsely prosecuted or from being taken advantage by a Michigan prosecutor or a judge who does not care enough to adequately consider our client’s personal situation.
Retail Fraud – Shoplifting
Retail Fraud is commonly referred to as shoplifting. It can occur where an accused person either physically removes the merchandise or alters or changes a price tag. In addition, a retail fraud or embezzlement can occur where someone worked in concert with an employee to steal merchandise. Retail Fraud is a serious crime and can have long-term repercussions for a person’s employment and eligibility for student loans. In addition, for people who are not U.S. citizens, the INS considers Retail Fraud a crime of moral turpitude that can lead to deportation under certain circumstances. Many businesses have written policies preventing the hiring of employees with a criminal history involving theft or dishonesty. Any person convicted of felony retail fraud is ineligible to receive federally guaranteed student loans under current law. Many people consider retail fraud to be a minor matter or a youthful indiscretion. Although this is often a youthful mistake in the modern era of computerized criminal histories this cannot be taken lightly and every effort must be made to fight these cases and keep them off your record. First-time offenders typically face up to 93 days in jail, up to $1,000 in fines, and civil restitution, paying back the retailer for any merchandise stolen or damaged. A second offense is usually considered a high misdemeanor or felony, with severe potential penalties. Additionally, a shoplifting conviction can have negative immigration consequences.
Drug Crimes
In the last year statistics were recorded 1.5 million people were arrested for drug related crimes in the United States. Some crimes, which are harshly prosecuted in Michigan, include:
• Distributing drugs
• Drug manufacturing
• Drug possession
• Drug trafficking
• Possession of a controlled substance
• Possessing drug paraphernalia
• Possession with intent to sell
• Selling drugs
All Michigan drug charges are very serious matters, and depending upon the circumstances, carry with them severe legal consequences. If you are convicted of a drug charge, there are many different penalties that you may be confronted with, such as monetary fines, probation, and/or a jail term. A drug related conviction on your criminal record might cause many problems in your personal and professional life, as it may minimize your chance of obtaining a good job or a place to live.
Violation of Probation – Probation Violation Defense
Sentencing often includes probation, either non-reporting probation or reporting probation. While nonreporting probation is mostly restricted to simply staying out of trouble, reporting probation includes mandatory meetings with a probation officer or the judge. A probation violation occurs when someone who is sentenced to probation violates any of the rules imposed upon him or her during the probationary period of the sentence. Probation may include required payment of fines, restitution to any victims, restrictions on movement or association, restrictions on possession of drugs or guns, and other conditions. Failure to follow any of these rules may result in a violation of probation. Consequently, probation can be revoked and jail or prison time can be a result.
Violation of Parole
When an individual is sentenced to prison and subsequently released, that individual may be placed on parole afterwards. The conditions of parole may include a number of requirements. Such as required payment of fines, restitution to any victims, restrictions on movement or association with certain other individuals, restriction on possession of alcohol/drugs or guns/weapons, and other conditions. Failure to follow any of these may result in a violation of parole. Many times a parolee is stuck with a parole officer who doesn’t like them and goes out of their way to try to make life difficult for them. This is unfair and unconstitutional and our criminal attorneys fight this aggressively.
Vandalism - Malicious Destruction of Property
Vandalism is the willful or malicious destruction or defacement of public or private property. Even if the property damages are minimal, it is still a crime. Vandalism can be considered either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the severity of the damage. In felony cases, the consequences can be severe, such as prison time, fines and probation. It is important that you have a seasoned vandalism lawyer to present an aggressive defense on your behalf.
Federal Crimes Defense – All Federal Charges
Federal violations typically have harsher penalties than state charges, and we are familiar with all aspects of federal law. If you are facing federal prosecution on any charge, we can help. The United States Attorney’s office in Southeastern Michigan is known for being aggressive and, at times, over-zealous. On the other hand, when confronted with an experienced federal defense lawyer, the U.S. Attorney’s office can be reasonable and willing to reach favorable settlements. On some occasions, our office has been able to convince the United States Attorney’s office to avoid indictment or prosecution of any type.
Appeals
Once a verdict has been reached in a case, an appeal of the verdict is certainly possible. Whether you were inadequately represented by a lawyer who failed to fight for your rights, or one who neglected to aggressively pursue your defense, we can evaluate your case and ensure that any unfairness in your case is discovered and used to appeal the verdict. There are many elements that need to be reviewed in order to determine whether a verdict can be appealed, so please contact us for more information.
Expungement or Motions to Set Aside Conviction
An expungement of your record allows you to honestly answer the question “Have you ever been convicted of a crime?” with a “no”! An expungement is the legal process of having your criminal record erased of all eligible felony and misdemeanor convictions. Our criminal defense attorneys can submit a petition on your behalf and motion for the charges to be erased. After a successful petition, your record will be wiped clean.
“We Can Help You”
Please review our full website to learn more about us. We are familiar with all aspects of criminal law, and even if you don't see the charges you are facing, contact us or give us a call at (248) 263-6800 to arrange for a FREE and CONFIDENTIAL consultation and learn how we can help you. Our attorneys are always happy to help anyone in any criminal matter, and the respect and consideration you'll be shown will convince you that you've got the best possible, hardest fighting defense law firm available in the United States today. If you would like us to promptly contact you, please fill out a Request for Assistance Form.
