Kalamazoo Michigan Criminal Defense Law Blog

Anyone who watches crime shows has probably heard television detectives discussing evidence, warrants and probable cause. While the sensational aspects of police dramas may overshadow these legal concepts, it is important for our readers in Michigan to know that rules do apply to law enforcement officials when they perform searches of suspects' homes, vehicles and persons. One of those rules is the exclusionary rule, and it has its basis in a Supreme Court decision from more than a century ago.

In the case of Weeks v. United States, the Supreme Court determined that the defendant could have illegally obtained evidence thrown out before trial. In general, a law enforcement official must have a warrant or probable cause in order to legally perform a search and seize alleged contraband. In the case of Weeks, the government agent had no constitutional justification for the seizure of the disputed evidence.

Acts of violence are generally non-existent in the lives of Kalamazoo residents. In fact, after the occasional childhood scuffle that a person may get into with their siblings or friends, most grown-ups live their lives without ever having to deal with altercations of assault or battery. Some people, however, do find themselves in difficult situations in which they may have to use force or threats to prevent themselves or others from suffering harm.

When a person is threatened with violence themselves, or when a person sees a loved one threatened with violence, they may have the right to offer proportional force to that which the aggressor is inflicting upon their intended victim. If the aggressor is harmed in the process, the person may have defenses to any criminal charges that are filed against them in the form of self-defense or defense of others.

A 47-year-old Kalamazoo man who shot and left his friend near an intersection in Comstock Township was sentenced Monday for possession of meth and assault with a dangerous weapon. The incident occurred over a drug dispute.

The Defendant was given a sentence of 29 months to 15 years for possession of methamphetamine. In addition, he was given a sentence of 18 months to six years for the assault charge. Both of these charges are felonies. However, the defense attorney was able to negotiate a plea deal for the Defendant with the Prosecutor. In addition, the man received credit for 203 days already served.

Drunk driving continues to be a major issue in every state across the nation, including Michigan, and the offenders are usually men.

However, the results of a study that was presented at a traffic safety conference in East Lansing indicate the reasons behind an increase in the number of women arrested for driving under the influence.