Michigan Criminal Defense Lawyer

Have you been charged with a crime in the Lansing, MI, area? If so, you deserve knowledgeable legal representation to defend your rights and help you seek the fair resolution you deserve. Contact DeBruin Law, PLLC, today for a free case review with a criminal defense attorney to discuss your options for resolving your charges.

Why Choose a Criminal Defense Lawyer from DeBruin Law, PLLC?

Don’t make the mistake of facing the criminal justice system alone. Instead, turn to DeBruin Law, PLLC, for the advocacy you need to protect your rights and reputation. Founding attorney Tiffany DeBruin has the knowledge, experience, and dedication to defend you against criminal prosecution vigorously.

When you hire our firm, you can expect to work with an attorney who will provide you with the personal attention and responsive communication you need during this challenging process. You can rest assured that Tiffany DeBruin will personally handle your case from start to finish. Her established working relationships with prosecutors, other attorneys, court staff, and local judges help her to advocate effectively for her clients’ interests, and her nearly 20 years in practice give her the experience and knowledge to handle a range of criminal cases.

So when you need an attorney who’s confident in the fight and committed to your defense, you know where to turn. Contact DeBruin Law Firm, PLLC, today, and let’s get started with your initial consultation.

Types of Criminal Cases We Handle

At DeBruin Law, PLLC, a knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer can help you stand up for your rights and interests when you face criminal charges involving:

Domestic violence/assault: Domestic violence offenses can include harassment, stalking, criminal trespass, assault and battery.
Drug crimes: Our firm represents clients facing prosecution for drug charges such as simple possession, possession with intent to distribute, drug trafficking, and prescription drug crimes.
Criminal fraud: Offenses involving criminal fraud can include credit card fraud, identity theft, false pretenses, forgery, and counterfeiting.
Property crimes: We can help you resolve charges involving property crimes such as vandalism, arson, and malicious destruction of property.
Theft crimes: Our firm defends individuals charged with theft offenses such as larceny, robbery, shoplifting (also known as retail fraud), and receiving stolen goods.
Juvenile crimes: We advocate on behalf of adolescents in the juvenile justice system facing delinquency charges for offenses like truancy or running away from home. We also represent juveniles charged with conduct that, if committed by an adult, would constitute crimes, such as OWI, shoplifting (also known as retail fraud), destruction of property, or drug possession.
OWI: Founding attorney Tiffany DeBruin works hard to stay at the forefront of OWI defense law. As a board member of the Michigan Association of OWI Attorneys, Tiffany has developed top-notch knowledge of criminal law to provide clients with an effective defense in intoxicated driving cases.
Traffic violations: Our firm can help motorists cited or arrested for traffic offenses, such as speeding, driving without a license, driving with a suspended license, failure to stop/yield, and reckless driving.
Crimes against the public and peace: We handle cases involving “public nuisance” charges, such as open container violations, disorderly person offenses, public intoxication, or resisting arrest.
Probation violations: Our firm can assist you with resolving charges of violating the conditions of your probation or parole, including drug-related violations, curfew/geographic restrictions violations, or other technical violations.
Driver’s License Restoration: As a criminal defense attorney in Michigan, we can greatly assist with the restoration of your driver’s license by guiding you through the process, preparing the required documentation, and presenting a compelling case at the hearing.

Our firm also assists individuals seeking to expunge their criminal records.

Possible Criminal Defense Strategies

An individual charged with a criminal offense may raise legal or factual defenses to contest the prosecution’s allegations and seek a reduction or dismissal of their charges or an acquittal at trial. Common defense strategies used in criminal cases include:

Lack of intent: When a criminal charge requires a defendant to have acted with specific intent, a defendant may argue that they did not act with the necessary criminal intent.
Lack of possession: In drug or weapons cases, defendants may assert that the prosecution’s case fails to prove they had actual or constructive possession of the contraband.
Mistaken identity: A defendant may seek to undermine the strength of a victim’s or eyewitness’s identification by arguing they failed to obtain a clear look at the perpetrator or showing that police used improper identification procedures.
Alibi: Defendants may present alibi evidence to prove they were elsewhere when a crime occurred and thus could not have committed it.
Self-defense: In a case involving assault or other violent charges, a defendant may claim they acted in self-defense or defense of others to protect against aggression by the alleged victim.
Contesting the forensic evidence: When a criminal case involves DNA, fingerprint, breath/blood analysis, or other forensic evidence, defendants may challenge the reliability of that evidence by highlighting issues with testing.
Moving to exclude or suppress prosecution evidence: A defendant may seek to exclude evidence from the prosecution’s case because the police obtained it through an unlawful search or by violating the defendant’s rights during questioning.

Consequences of a Criminal Conviction

After a criminal conviction, a defendant may face various consequences and penalties, including a criminal sentence that may include probation, fines, or incarceration. Standard maximum terms for felony criminal offenses in Michigan include:

Class A offenses: Life imprisonment or any term of years in prison
Class B offenses: Up to 20 years in prison
Class C offenses: Up to 15 years in prison
Class D offenses: Up to ten years in prison
Class E offenses: Up to five years in prison
Class F offenses: Up to four years in prison
Class G offenses: Up to two years in prison
Class H offenses: A jail term or intermediate sanctions

However, some criminal offenses have specific sentencing terms outlined in the offense statute. Specific sentences will depend on various factors, such as a defendant’s criminal history and the nature of the offense. Criminal sentences may also impose restitution obligations on defendants, which require them to reimburse their victims for financial losses caused by a defendant’s crime.

Criminal convictions can lead to other consequences for defendants. For example, convictions for certain offenses can lead to losing certain rights, such as the right to own a firearm, or eligibility for specific government benefits. A conviction will also result in a criminal record, which may impose a social stigma that may make it challenging to pursue employment, housing, or educational opportunities if a person’s criminal history comes up in a background check.

Given the potential consequences of criminal convictions, working with an experienced criminal defense attorney can help you seek the best possible resolution to your charges that can minimize the fallout of an arrest or conviction.

What Can a Criminal Defense Attorney Do to Help You Face Charges

When you hire a criminal defense attorney from DeBruin Law, PLLC, our firm can help you stand up for your rights and interests in the criminal justice system by:

Independently investigating your charges to find all the evidence in your case, including favorable facts and witnesses that police and prosecutors may have overlooked
Explaining your charges and the potential outcomes of your case so you can make informed decisions at each stage of the prosecution
Reviewing the facts and evidence to develop a comprehensive legal strategy involving defenses and challenges to the prosecution’s case
Vigorously pursuing the best possible outcome to your charges, whether by moving to reduce or dismiss your charges, negotiating a fair and favorable plea deal, or fighting your case at trial

Contact DeBruin Law, PLLC, Today to Discuss Your Options in Your Case

If you’ve been charged with a crime in the Lansing area, you deserve an attorney who’s committed to your defense. You deserve DeBruin Law, PLLC. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation to learn how our firm can help you fight for a favorable resolution to your charges.

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