Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog

April 22, 2015

Hockey Player Jarret Stoll Charged with Drug Possession at Vegas Resort

On Friday, April 18, NHL star Jarret Stoll of the LA Kings was arrested and charged with drug possession at the swimming pool area of a Las Vegas resort, according to news reports at CNN. Stoll, who is 32 years old, was reportedly charged with possession of ecstasy, cocaine, or other controlled substances. Stoll was taken to the Clark County Detention Center, where he was later released on $5,000 bail.

An additional news article states the charges Stoll faces include possession of controlled substances including class 1, 2, 3, and 4 substances. A native of Melville, Canada, Stoll has played with the LA Kings since 2008. A spokesperson for the team said on Friday that the team was aware of the police reports, and that the organization had begun conducting an internal investigation out of concern. No further comments were made, as facts are continuing to be gathered by the Kings.

A more recent news report at CBS Sports revealed that at the time of his arrest at the Wet Republic pool at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Stoll had 8.1 grams of ecstasy and 3.3 grams of cocaine. The hockey star allegedly tried to hide the drugs while going through a security check point at the pool inside his board shorts. As of Monday, April 20, no criminal charges had been filed against Stoll by the Clark County district attorney. The LA Times reported that while a felony court return date of July 1 had been set, it had not been determined by the district attorney as to whether the case would go forward.

April 21, 2015

Top New Jersey Cop to Keep Job Following DUI Crash and Charges

by Scott Grabel

Recently, Lt. Edward Zadroga of the Millville, New Jersey Police Department was arrested for driving under the influence. Zadroga, a top ranking officer in charge at the station, was pulling out of a driveway at a popular sports bar when he sideswiped another vehicle. According to news reports, Zadroga was arrested by officers who were under his command. He was charged with reckless driving and DWI, however he will keep his job.

Mayor Michael Santiago appointed Zadroga to the temporary supervisory position in early April, and said that “We’re all human. We make mistakes.” Santiago says that Zadroga will keep his position for now, however some residents feel that the Millville police lieutenant should be held accountable for his actions, just as civilians would. Zadroga was arrested by officer Ralph Satero after he failed a field sobriety test on Sunday evening, April 19 following the crash. No one was injured.

According to a news article at The Daily Journal, two other Millville officers were charged with drunken driving in September of last year, after the Corvette they were driving left the roadway and crashed into a Catholic church on Carmel Road.

April 17, 2015

Domestic Assault Results in Criminal Charges for Bay City Man

by Scott Grabel

On Monday, April 13, Bay City police received a call from a woman claiming domestic assault. The woman was calling from a 7-Eleven store when police arrived at approximately 1:30 in the morning. The 19-year-old woman told police that she was attacked at a South End home by her boyfriend, 25-year-old Jeremiah J. Leffew.

According to a news article at Mlive.com, Leffew intimidated the victim with a pair of scissors and a frying pan; he now faces several criminal charges, including domestic violence, assault by strangulation, assault with a dangerous weapon, and interfering with an electronics communication device.

The alleged victim told police that an argument began after Leffew dumped a container of trash on the floor of the home. Leffew disputes the allegations, saying that the fracas began after his girlfriend struck him with an empty liquor bottle. Leffew claims that the victim is “crazy,” and that he did grab her wrists at one point during the argument to keep her from hitting him.

April 16, 2015

Man’s Conviction for Murder of Arlington Pastor Upheld by Appeals Court

by Scott Grabel

In October of 2012, Steven Lawayne Nelson was found guilty of killing Rev. Clint Dobson at North Pointe Baptist Church in Arlington in March of 2011. Nelson testified at trial in his own defense, and denied killing Dobson, saying that he was outside the church when two friends went inside and committed the murder. A church secretary was also badly beaten in the incident.

Judy Elliot, the brutally beaten secretary, had her 2007 Mitsubishi Galant stolen in the incident; a computer was also stolen from the church. Security camera footage captured the stolen vehicle on the afternoon of the crime. A witness told jurors in the case that he purchased Clint Dobson’s stolen computer unknowingly when he met Nelson at a tire shop in Arlington. Nelson was captured on video a short time later that same afternoon making a purchase at a convenience store, thought to be made using money from the sale of the computer. Nelson was ultimately found guilty of capital murder, and sentenced to death.

Yesterday it was announced that Nelson’s appeal of his conviction and death sentence had been denied by Texas’ top criminal appeals court. The court upheld Nelson’s conviction, rejecting the arguments brought forth by Nelson’s attorneys that the evidence to convict him was insufficient, that evidence involving text messages was improperly allowed, and that there were problems with both jury selection and instruction.

April 14, 2015

Attorneys and Their Pets: 2015 Edition

by Scott Grabel

Last weekend we celebrated National Pet Day, and there is no better time to feature the most-loved pets (AKA “children,” coworkers, friends, and confidants) of attorneys. Without further ado:

Clyde and Cleo (left) and Wiggles (AKA Wiggly Monster) (right) from Luke Ciciliano of SEO for Lawyers.

Chloe from Albert Krawczyk of the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.

April 13, 2015

Nelly Arrested in Tennessee on Drug Charges

by Scott Grabel

On Saturday, April 11, famous rapper Nelly whose real name is Cornell Haynes was arrested on felony drug charges in Tennessee.

According to news reports at ABC News and Fox News, 40-year-old Nelly was riding in a coach bus that lacked the required U.S. Department of Transportation and International Fuel Tax Association sticker. The bus was pulled over by Tennessee Highway Patrol at approximately 9:20 in the morning. Nelly was arrested when a state trooper allegedly noticed the odor of marijuana after pulling the coach bus over.

Scott Rosenblum, Nelly’s attorney, said in a statement to ABC News that his client was one of several individuals who was on the tour bus and searched. He went on to say that during the search, troopers found a small amount of ecstasy or MDMA. Rosenblum said that he is confident Nelly will not be connected with the contraband that was allegedly discovered on the tour bus when the facts of the case are revealed.

April 10, 2015

Following 2nd DUI Arrest, Honolulu Deputy Prosecutor Resigns

by Scott Grabel

Recently, Jon Riki Karamatsu resigned his position as deputy prosecutor after he was arrested for DUI for the second time. Karamatsu was arrested for driving under the influence in 2007 after he slammed into a concrete median on the Moanalua Freeway. At that time, he was serving as a state representative for the 41st District, according to news sources.

In the most recent incident which occurred at approximately 1:30 a.m. on April 4, Karamatsu was arrested after being stopped at a DUI checkpoint. At the time of news reports, it was not clear whether Karamatsu was under the influence of alcohol or something else, however he refused a blood alcohol or breathalyzer test. Karamatsu resigned as deputy prosecutor saying that he did not want his DUI case to distract from the work of the Honolulu City Prosecuting Attorney’s office.

In Hawaii, a second DUI offense outside of five years of the first offense is considered another first offense. Ultimately Karamatsu will be subject to the same penalties as a first-time DUI offender, which include a fine, community service, possible jail time, and attendance of an alcohol class. Additionally, Karamatsu’s drivers license was revoked for two years.

April 9, 2015

Former Troy Resident Convicted by Federal Jury of Structuring Financial Transactions

by Scott Grabel

Recently, it was announced by U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade and Special Agent in Charge Jarod J. Koopman of the IRS – Criminal Investigation unit that former Troy, Michigan resident Irvin Flemming had been convicted of structuring financial transactions by a federal jury. Flemming was involved in a drug trafficking organization orchestrated by Carlos Powell, an organization which was investigated over a period of several years.

According to the press release, Flemming’s role in the drug operation was to make financial transactions in a way that would prevent law enforcement from detecting the true source of the funds and Powell’s illegal drug activities.

The investigation, which was conducted by agents and officers from various organizations and county, city, and state law enforcement agencies including the DEA, Homeland Security, Michigan State Police, officers from Detroit, Plymouth, Warren, Redford, Northville, and others, led to the discovery that Flemming was structuring, or causing to be structured, nearly $240,000 in cash that belonged to Powell in September and October of 2010. Flemming was structuring deposits into bank accounts he controlled, depositing amounts of $10,000 or less with each deposit so that the banks/financial institutions would not report the transactions. Financial institutions are required under law to file a report regarding deposits of more than $10,000.

April 7, 2015

Iowa Traffic Stop Results in Marijuana Possession Charges

by Scott Grabel

In the early morning hours of Tuesday, April 7, a traffic stop in Red Oak resulted in two individuals’ arrests for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. According to a news report at Kmaland.com, the stop was conducted just north of Villisca near the intersection of Highways 71 and 34 at about 2 a.m.

One of the men, 19-year-old Alex Kristofer Tucker, is a resident of Cherokee, IA. The driver of the vehicle stopped by deputies is 21-year-old Kevin Eduardo Salinas of San Antonio, TX. Both men were arrested and taken to the Montgomery County Jail in Red Oak, where they are held on $1,000 bond each. Deputies were assisted in the investigation by the county K-9 officer.

Possession of marijuana is a serious drug offense in many states, although some have made the use of marijuana for recreational purposes legal. In Iowa, it is still illegal to possess marijuana. Penalties for first-time offenders include fines of up to $1,000 and a maximum of six months in jail.

April 6, 2015

Seattle High Speed Chase Ends in Crash, DUI Charges

by Scott Grabel

At approximately 1 a.m. on April 5, a high-speed chase resulted in a two car crash on the 520 Bridge in Seattle, according to news reports at the Seattle Times. One person is in custody after being arrested on charges of DUI with assault; that individual is also likely to face charges of eluding police, according to the report.

Washington State Trooper Chris Webb said that the person who was arrested was driving his BMW at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour in an effort to flee from police. The BMW eventually crashed into another car, with both vehicles being totaled. The crash occurred in the eastbound lanes of the 520 Bridge, causing those lanes to be closed for several hours.

Reports claim the driver of the BMW and an occupant of the vehicle that was struck during the chase sustained minor injuries, and were treated at Harborview Medical Center.