Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog
Original Case Details
A man from Hamtramck stands charged with four different felonies for his alleged threats against a Hamtramck Judge who was presiding over the man’s case. The man is alleged to have made death threats through text messages toward Hamtramck District Court Judge Alexis Krot. The text messages were allegedly sent to a third party and not the judge directly. Judge Krot was presiding over an assault case where the man is the defendant. When officers went to apprehend the man, he allegedly fled and committed numerous traffic violations in escaping arrest. Hamtramck Police arrested the man without incident later that day.
Criminal Charges and Potential Penalties
• False report or threat of terrorism
A conviction for the false report or threat of terrorism carries up to 20 years in prison and up to a $20,000 fine. A person is guilty of this charge if it is proven that the person made a threat to commit an act of terrorism and communicates that threat to any other person. A person cannot claim that they did not have the intent or capability to follow through on the threat, the charge is focused on the threat itself.
• Obstruction of justice
An obstruction of justice charge involves some sort of obstruction of a police officer from being able to serve their lawful duties in some way. A conviction for obstruction of justice carries up to 2 years in prison and a fine of up to $2,000.
• Third-degree fleeing and eluding police
A fleeing and eluding charge involves someone driving away from police when they are attempting to stop someone. A conviction for fleeing and eluding in the third degree carries up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
• Malicious use of a telecommunications device
A malicious use of a telecommunications device charge is on that involves making harassing or threatening communication using a cell phone. This charge usually arises from repeated and threatening text messages. This is a misdemeanor charge that carries up to 6 months in jail and up to a $1,000 fine.
What Happens Next?
The man is currently being held in the Wayne County Jail with a $150,000 cash or surety bond. This means that he will have to come up with $150,000 cash or come up with enough collateral for a bail bond to be able to be free while his case progresses. Hamtramck Judge Krot has recused herself from the man’s earlier case, so he will continue that case as well as his others in front of a different judge. His most serious charge is one where his intent doesn’t matter. This is a rare type of charge in the area of criminal law. Many times, a person’s intent is hugely important in deciding their guilt or innocence. For a conviction of false report or threat of terrorism, the prosecutor simply has to show that the defendant made the threat itself and that it was communicated to someone else, that’s it. Even if the contents of the threat are completely impossible, the man can still be properly convicted of the charge as it is written. It is unclear who he is alleged to have sent the text message to, but in the end, it may not matter for purposes of the charge.
Any Further Questions?
If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime or being investigated for one, then it is important to speak to an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately. At Grabel & Associates, our attorneys have over 100 years of combined experience in successfully defending criminal cases all over the state of Michigan. This experience extends not only to adult cases, but also to juvenile charges. We are not a general practice firm. We are a team of criminal defense attorneys; it’s all we do. We offer a FREE consultation to anyone with questions relating to a possible or existing criminal charge against them or a loved one. Feel free to contact us on our 24/7 defense line at 1-800-342-7896. You can also contact us online or come visit us at one of our three statewide locations. We can also come to you.