Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog
As experienced Michigan criminal defense attorneys know, a criminal charge does not always lead to a conviction and the resulting criminal penalties. In February of this year, 29-year-old Joslin Patrick McEwen was charged with first-degree felony home invasion in connection with an incident that occurred in Cedar Springs in the 100 block of South 1st Street; now, the charge has been dismissed by the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office.
The alleged victim, Dante Brown, told police in February that his neighbor (McEwen) came to his home to apologize for an incident that had happened the previous day. According to Brown, the apology transformed into an assault when McEwen allegedly busted into Brown’s home. McEwen asked for a polygraph test, denying Brown’s accusations. Not only did McEwen pass the polygraph in June, the alleged victim seems to have disappeared. As of a news article posted on Friday, July 12 at Mlive.com, Cedar Springs police had not been able to locate Brown.
Cedar Springs Police Chief Roger Parent said in the article that authorities don’t know if the story is fabricated, and that “All we can do is take the report from the citizen and investigate the case.” It was a bit suspicious to police that McEwen passed the polygraph, and suddenly the alleged victim has vanished.
A conviction of first-degree home invasion leaves the accused individual facing serious criminal penalties, including fines of up to $5,000 and up to 20 years in jail. As you can see from this incident, there are cases in which a seemingly innocent person may be charged with a serious crime. Even when the evidence seems overwhelming, a skilled defense attorney can often obtain a good outcome.
Whether you have been accused of home invasion, burglary, armed robbery, or any serious crime it is critical that you consult with a capable and aggressive Michigan criminal defense lawyer right away, so that work can begin to protect your freedom and reputation.