Criminal Defense Overview

December 18, 2012

35-year-old Lansing Man Facing Life in Prison for Killing Outside Nightclub in November 2011

In November of 2011, 35-year-old Richard Anthony Strong allegedly shot and killed Ygnacio Bermudez Jr., a Lansing event promoter. News reports claim that Bermudez was found murdered in the 400 block of East Michigan Avenue in Lansing at around 2:15 a.m. following numerous 911 calls regarding shots fired. The police did not immediately arrest Strong, who had fled in a vehicle with another person prior to their arrival on the scene.

Bermudez had hosted a hip-hop event prior to his death, and promoted local talent in an effort to get people to engage in positive activities so they would stay off the streets, according to news reports. While police did not initially know what the motive was for the shooting, they did believe that Bermudez was not the victim of a random shooting, and that he was the target.

In November police were actively searching for Strong, who was wanted on felony warrant charges of felony firearm possession, felon in possession of a firearm, and open murder. Police eventually located the suspect in North Carolina in February. Throughout his trial, Strong maintained that he was innocent; he also testified on his own behalf.

On December 12, Ingham Circuit Judge Clinton Canady sentenced Strong, who is now 36 years old, to life in prison without parole. He will now spend the remainder of his life in prison. A conviction on first-degree murder charges carries a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole in Michigan.

Michigan homicide defense attorneys realize that murder is a horrific crime; however, there are also situations in which innocent people are convicted, or someone may have acted in self defense. Our prisons today are filled with individuals who are not guilty of the crimes they have been accused of.

December 5, 2012

Milford Duo Arrested in Connection with Burglary of Home

by Scott Grabel

Two Milford men, James Golding and Jason Weeks, have recently been arrested after they were observed breaking into a home in Milford Township by members of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office FAT (Fugitive Apprehension Team). Authorities suspect the duo is responsible of at least one other burglary.

A joint investigation between the Milford and White Lake Township Police Departments and the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office led to the arrests; each of the men were charged with receiving and concealing stolen property, and second-degree home invasion, both felony offenses. The men, who are both 38 years old, could spend up to 20 years in prison.

Investigators had learned that Golding and Weeks had been pawning substantial amounts of jewelry recently; members of FAT then set up surveillance to watch the two men, who they suspected had broken into a home in White Lake Township. The team then later observed Golding and Weeks commit home invasion in Milford Township. The two are currently being held at the Oakland County Jail. Bond was set at $25,000 each at the arraignment hearing.

Individuals who are arrested for breaking and entering must consult with an experienced Michigan home invasion lawyer right away. Defending someone against these types of charges under Michigan law is not easy; you must have an attorney who is capable of protecting your reputation and keeping you out of jail. Even when having charges dismissed is not an option, a competent lawyer will work to have the charge reduced and seek out alternative sentencing options that are less harsh.

November 16, 2012

Suspect in I-96 Corridor Shootings Denied Bond, Faces 60 Counts Including Attempted Murder

by Scott Grabel

On November 5, police took a man into custody in Wixom who was suspected of being the shooter in the recent I-96 corridor shootings, which began on October 16 and had residents in the Detroit and surrounding areas very nervous. Only one person was injured during the ordeal; in all, 24 shootings took place in Ingham, Livingston, Oakland and Shiawassee counties. Police executed a search warrant on the 5th and took 43-year-old Raulie Wayne Casteel into custody at a residence in the area of Kings Crown Court and Loon Lake Road.

Reports indicate Casteel may suffer from mental illness; one news report said that Casteel made the statement that he was tired of military helicopters flying over his home. A news release stated that information collected during the investigation led to the arrest of Casteel, and that 10 law enforcement agencies made up the task force that investigated the shootings.

On Friday, November 9 Casteel was arraigned in Oakland County on 60 counts which included 9 counts of attempted murder. The suspect is being held without bond after Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Kenneth Frazee stated in court that this was appropriate considering the charges against Casteel represented only a portion of the victims who were subject to the “acts of terror.”

Charles Groh, one of Casteel’s attorneys, said that the suspect was a stay-at-home dad who has never been convicted of a crime. Casteel’s wife supports the family which according to news reports lived at his in-laws’ home in Wixom.

Other than attempted murder charges, other charges Casteel faces include firing from an automobile, discharging a firearm from a vehicle, assault with a dangerous weapon and three counts of felony firearm possession, all related to a Livingston County shooting incident that occurred on October 18.

According to the Associated Press Casteel is scheduled for a court appearance on November 14th.

Considering all of the charges Casteel faces, no doubt he will be in prison for a very long time if convicted. What happened to set off a 43-year-old father of a two year old who has never been convicted of a crime in the past? Perhaps the story will continue to unfold in the coming weeks.

November 5, 2012

Two Men Face at Least 20 Felony Charges Each Following Arraignment on Home Invasion Charges

by Scott Grabel

In late October, three men were charged with home invasion after working with a Dexter, Michigan, man to break into numerous homes in Ann Arbor and Dexter in the months of July and August. Now, two of those men are facing at least 20 felony charges each in addition to the second-degree home invasion charges.

Jeffrey Aron Schuh, 20, and Quang Nguyen, 19, were both arraigned recently on two charges each of second-degree home invasion. According to records, Schuh now faces 20 additional felony charges relating to 9 cases; Nguyen faces 24 additional felony charges related to 10 cases. Steven Colwell of Dexter, Nguyen, Schuh and Schuh’s father, Jeffrey Arthur Schuh, all allegedly worked together to break into numerous homes in Dexter, Ann Arbor and other Washtenaw County areas.

News reports indicate that Nguyen and Jeffrey Aron Schuh allegedly broke into homes on six different occasions in July, and three in August. Nguyen and Schuh’s father broke into another home on July 26.

The two men now face multiple charges, and face a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted. Nguyen is facing two charges each of safe breaking, stealing a financial transaction device, and first-degree home invasion along with 18 charges of second-degree home invasion. Jeffrey Aron Schuh faces identical charges with the exception of second-degree home invasion, in which he was charged with 16 counts.

Nguyen, Schuh and Schuh’s father are currently held at the Washtenaw County Jail, and are expected to return to court on November 8 for preliminary exams.

The 4-man home invasion ring fell apart when Colwell was arrested on August 9th and confessed to police about the home invasions which took place mostly in Ann Arbor and Dexter. Residents reported stolen belongings which included credit cards and jewelry.

Michigan home invasion lawyers know that breaking and entering is a serious offense that puts the accused at risk of facing severe punishment if convicted. This is a crime that under Michigan law is tough to defend, making it essential that you choose an aggressive, capable attorney.

October 25, 2012

I-96 Corridor Shootings: Police Investigation Making Headway

by Scott Grabel

Recently, 22 random shootings have taken place along and near the I-96 corridor in Metro Detroit; as of yet, police have not been able to apprehend the gunman, but have tied seven of the bullet fragments to a single weapon, according to Oakland County Undersheriff Mike McCabe.

Thankfully none of the victims have been injured to date. Even though seven of the (bullet) fragments have been identified as belonging to the same gun, what type of gun that is cannot yet be confirmed due to lack of evidence. Police did recover a 9mm bullet casing in Perry, where a single incident occurred.

On Sunday October 21, a release was issued by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department listing the vicinities of the shootings that have taken place in Ingham, Livingston, Oakland and Shiawassee counties, and the police/sheriff departments that have been involved in investigations:

Ingham County Sheriff’s Office, 7 incidents
Livingston County Sheriff’s Office, 1 incident
Oakland County Sheriff’s Office (Commerce Township), 2 incidents
Perry Police Department, 1 incident
Shiawassee County Sheriff’s Office, 1 incident
Wixom Police Department, 10 incidents
On Tuesday October 23, the number of incidents was updated to 27 according to a report by the Lansing State Journal.

After the 48-hour barrage of shootings last week, the gunman went silent. Police believe that the shooter is in his 20s or 30s, and that he is randomly firing on both pedestrians and motorists near the Interstate 96 corridor along a span that stretches from Ingham County to Metro Detroit.

Understandably, commuters who travel this route are fearful, and have rerouted their travels. School districts in the area have cancelled outdoor recess and locked down campuses. One victim in Ingham County gave a description of the shooter and his vehicle; police were able to release a sketch of the suspect based on that information, and believe he is driving a 1998 Toyota Camry or 1998 Oldsmobile Alero that is dark in color.

Michigan criminal defense attorneys know that once the suspect is apprehended, he will likely face very serious consequences. Is he a felon with a previous criminal record? What if the bullets that have been fired had struck pedestrians or motorists along the I-96 corridor, perhaps injuring or even killing them?

October 8, 2012

Roseville Mother Injured Trying to Save Children in Carjacking

by Scott Grabel

On October 4th, a 31-year-old mother was injured as she was run over while trying to save her children from a carjacking. At about 8:45 Thursday morning, the woman and her two children had gotten into her 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee and were preparing to head to school when she realized she had forgotten something. She left the vehicle running as she went back inside the home; upon coming back out of the house, she witnessed two males which she described as “younger looking” getting inside her vehicle with her children.

As the alleged suspects began to drive off with the woman’s 7- and 8-year-old boys, she ran toward the vehicle screaming in an attempt to get them to stop, according to a release issued by Roseville police. The suspects did not listen to the pleading mother, and instead fled at a high rate of speed from the driveway. In the process, it is alleged that they struck the woman with the vehicle and subsequently ran over her legs in their efforts to get away.

Still in the woman’s vehicle, the suspects fled from the 26000 block of Collingwood Street to the 18000 block of Marquette Street. They lost control of the Jeep, striking a telephone pole. The suspects then jumped out of the vehicle according to police and fled on foot; the two boys jumped out of the vehicle and were not injured. Eyewitnesses told police that the suspects were picked up by a vehicle described as a dark-colored small SUV or minivan.

The woman was hospitalized and suffered head and leg injuries. On Friday morning following the carjacking, she was upgraded from critical to stable condition. A search continues for the suspects; Roseville police ask that witnesses call 586-447-4483.

Carjacking is a very serious criminal offense; Michigan carjacking attorneys know you may be charged with grand theft auto, joyriding or unlawfully driving away an automobile (UDAA). Even when no weapon is involved in the commission of the crime, you can face charges of carjacking. In the offense described above, the suspects could additionally face charges of kidnapping as well, which could ultimately mean life in prison and fines of as much as $50,000 if convicted.

October 3, 2012

Jimmy Hoffa’s Remains Possibly Beneath Roseville Driveway

by Scott Grabel

Recently, news reports have indicated that Teamster boss Jimmy Hoffa, who disappeared from a Bloomfield Hills Township lunch meeting 37 years ago, may be buried beneath a Roseville driveway. According to Roseville Police Chief James Berlin, the department received information from an individual who claimed to see something. Michigan’s Department of Environmental Quality decided to follow up on the tip, using radar to investigate a particular area below the driveway; an anomaly was detected and the department scheduled a return visit to collect a soil sample on September 28th.

After his disappearance in 1975, Hoffa’s whereabouts has remained one of the biggest mysteries of the 20th century. Over the decades, authorities have received hundreds of tips regarding what happened to Hoffa, but this one seemed credible according to Berlin. The informant believed a body was buried under the driveway of a residential home after he “saw something,” and that the body was that of Hoffa because it was during the time period that Hoffa disappeared. News reports claim that the driveway in question is located in the 18700 block of Florida.

Hoffa, who at the time was 62 years old, had gone to what was then the Machus Red Fox restaurant in order to reconcile with Anthony Provenzano (Tony Pro) and Anthony Giacalone (Tony Jack), two mobsters. Provenzano was a New Jersey Teamster official, Giacalone a Detroit mafia captain. Hoffa has never been seen again since that fateful July 30th of 1975.

Hoffa had been sentenced to 8 to 13 years in prison for conspiracy, fraud and jury tampering, and had served almost 5 years of that sentence when he disappeared. FBI authorities believed at the time that Hoffa’s body was incinerated of shredded after he had gotten into a vehicle driven by Chuckie O’Brien before being driven to the scene of his murder. O’Brien was Hoffa’s long-time protégé according to news reports.

No one has ever been charged in Hoffa’s disappearance, and police say that the homeowner who now lives at the home in question is being cooperative, but does not want to be interviewed. She has lived in the home for more than a decade.

Michigan criminal defense lawyers certainly find this a very compelling case. The mystery of what happened to Jimmy Hoffa has been one that has sparked interest and speculation for years.

September 21, 2012

Two Men Arrested in Connection With Delta Township Convenience Store Shooting

by Scott Grabel

On Saturday September 8, a shooting took place at a Delta Township Quicky Convenience Store that left one 23-year-old Lansing man seriously injured according to news reports. The store is located at 4820 South Waverly Road. The alleged victim was taken to an area hospital following the shooting, which occurred just after 11 a.m. He allegedly suffered a gunshot wound to the chest.

Now, two men have been arrested and charged with the shooting. 18-year-old James Terrell Hudson of Lansing was charged with felony firearm possession and assault with intent to murder according to the Eaton County Sheriff’s Office. Another man of DeWitt, 30-year-old Michael Allen, was charged with accessory after the fact.

According to the Sheriff’s department, the victim remained in critical condition the Wednesday following the shooting. A $1 million bond was set for Hudson by 56A District Judge Julie Reincke; Allen’s bond was set at $500,000. Lansing police were the first on the scene; the case was then turned over to Eaton County Sheriff’s Department after the location of the alleged crime was determined.

If you have been arrested for assault in Michigan, you should know that the laws are quite complicated; many variables affect how severe the penalties will be if you are convicted. Aggravated assault, assault with a dangerous weapon (a felony charge), assault with intent to maim, to do Great Bodily Harm or to commit murder – if you have been arrested for any of these offenses, you must have a capable Michigan criminal defense attorney on your side.

September 19, 2012

August Church Fire in Lansing Act of Arson According to Fire Department

by Scott Grabel

On August 31, New Testament Assemblies Church in Lansing caught fire at around 5:30 p.m. The church, located in a residential area in the 100 block of Astor Avenue, is just south of McLaren Hospital. It took firefighters about an hour to extinguish the flames; the building was also filled with smoke and heat, causing the firefighters to have to vent the roof. Fire officials believe after investigating that the fire began in the rear of the church building on the floor. At that time, the cause of the fire was not known.

On September 18, news reports revealed that it had been determined that the cause of the fire was arson. Authorities believe the fire was intentionally set, and have identified a suspect according to Lansing Fire Marshal Brad Drury. The church suffered extensive damage, but no one was injured. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was working with the fire department to solve the crime, which has left the church burned out and boarded up.

Details regarding the individual suspected of committing the arson have not been released in order to avoid jeopardizing the criminal investigation. Stunned neighbors are happy that officials have a suspect in mind; one resident commented that the offense was unbelievable, and she questioned who on earth would do that to the Lord’s house.

Michigan criminal defense attorneys realize that arson is a serious criminal offense that some believe to be “harmless,” particularly if a small fire is set in order to get revenge. However, even a small fire can spread to enormous proportions, putting property and lives at risk. Those charged with and convicted on arson charges may face serious punishment.

September 18, 2012

Lansing Men Arraigned on Larceny Charges After Allegedly Attempting Theft of Auto Parts

by Scott Grabel

Two Lansing men, 19-year-old Timothy Schmitke and 27-year-old Richard Edwards are facing felony charges after allegedly being caught by police as they were attempting to steal items from an auto salvage yard. Lansing District Judge Louise Alderson arraigned the two men on charges of larceny $1,000 or more but less than $20,000.

The alleged crime occurred at Lansing One Stop Automotive, located at 209 Baker Street. According to news reports, police were dispatched to the location at approximately 12:20 a.m. Officers were called to the scene after witnesses saw the two men get out of a vehicle and proceed to enter the yard by crawling under a fence. Upon their arrival, police allegedly found Edwards and Schmitke exiting the yard; the two were arrested without incident.

News reports claim that approximately 40 items belonging to the yard were found by police in and around the vehicle Schmitke and Edwards were driving. According to police, all items were returned to the business owner.

Judge Alderson set bond for the two men; Edwards bond at 10% of $15,000 and Schmitke’s at 10% of $10,000. The two men were scheduled for a pretrial conference on Monday, September 17 before Lansing District Judge Frank DeLuca. DeLuca will also preside over the preliminary examination scheduled for September 20.

In the state of Michigan, the majority of crimes involving theft are considered larceny, which can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony depending on the circumstances and value of property/money stolen. Michigan criminal defense attorneys know that the penalties those convicted on charges of larceny face can be harsh.

Felony charges for theft of property/money worth more than $1,000 but less than $20,000 can mean 5 years in prison along with fines of up to 3 times the value of the property or $10,000, whichever is greater.