734-359-7018
Now Accepting New Clients!
Blog

CRIMINAL 19: Sentencing guidelines are advisory.

In this case, there is no doubt that defendant assaulted and seriously injured the victim; she also destroyed the victim’s and his wife’s property.  Defendant and the victim engaged in an affair for more than five years. The victim was a wealthy, middle-aged married man; defendant, a substantially younger single woman. These offenses arose during a weekend that the two spent at the victim’s vacation home.

Defendant became increasingly frustrated with what she believed was the slow pace of the victim’s divorce proceeding. The victim, however, had withdrawn his divorce action months earlier, apparently without informing defendant. Moreover, on this weekend, defendant discovered an item leading her to conclude that the victim continued to engage in conjugal relations with his spouse. Excessive alcohol use also appears to have contributed to defendant’s destructive and assaultive behavior.

Conviction

Following a jury trial, defendant was convicted of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder (AWIGBH), malicious destruction of personal property valued at less than $200, domestic violence, malicious destruction of a building between $200 and $1,000, and resisting or obstructing a police officer.

Sentencing

The trial court imposed a sentence of two years’ probation, with the first five months to be served in county jail, for the AWIGBH conviction, a three-day jail sentence, with credit for time served, for the malicious destruction of personal property, malicious destruction of a building, and resisting or obstructing convictions; a thirty-day jail sentence for the domestic violence conviction; and a three-month jail sentence for the felonious assault conviction.

Sentencing Guidelines

The prosecution argued that the trial court abused its discretion by imposing a downward departing sentence. The sentencing guidelines are advisory, and although a trial court must determine the applicable guidelines range and take it into account when imposing a sentence, the court is not required to sentence a defendant within that range.

The trial court noted that the prosecution had earlier offered defendant an opportunity to plead guilty to felonious assault and the misdemeanor malicious-destruction offenses in exchange for dismissal of the remaining charges. Defendant, however, declined what the court offer by the prosecution. If defendant had accepted the prosecution’s offer, the sentencing guidelines’ recommendation would have been 0 to 17 months’ imprisonment.

Criminal Defense Experience

When you are facing criminal charges it is important to quickly secure effective legal representation. As a client of Aldrich Legal Services, you will benefit from working with Michigan criminal lawyers who have defended thousands of clients facing criminal charges.

Contact Aldrich Legal Services

Speak to a Pro: (734) 404-3000

REAL ESTATE 89: RM had not included any language in the deed providing that the property was a joint tenancy with full rights of survivorship, the property instead became a tenancy in common.

RM drafted the deed without seeking counsel and mistakenly believed that, if either she or FK died, the property would fully pass to the surviving tenant. FK’s will provided that if his wife predeceased him—which she did—the personal representative of his estate should sell any residual property that he owned and divide the cash proceeds equally among his surviving children.

FAMILY LAW 83: A trial court can terminate a parent’s rights and permit a stepparent to adopt a child.

A trial court has discretion to terminate a parent’s rights and permit a stepparent to adopt a child when the conditions of MCL 710.51(6) are met. MCL 710.51(6)(b) requires the petitioner to establish that the other parent had the ability to visit, contact, or communicate with the children, and substantially failed or neglected to do so for a period of two years.

PROBATE 53: The trust agreement included an Incontestability Provision.

A settlor’s intent is to be carried out as nearly as possible. Generally, in terrorem clauses are valid and enforceable. However, a provision in a trust that purports to penalize an interested person for contesting the trust or instituting another proceeding relating to the trust shall not be given effect if probable cause exists for instituting a proceeding contesting the trust or another proceeding relating to the trust.

FAMILY LAW 82: Court stated it would terminate the personal protection order (PPO) after the parties present documentation of the initiation of the divorce proceedings.

However, the trial court concluded that these matters should, in fact, be in the province and the jurisdiction of the Family Division and in that respect, having issued a personal protection order, the Court stated it would terminate the personal protection order after the parties present documentation of the initiation of the divorce proceedings.

What to Do When Homeowners Insurance Denies Your Claim

Since 1955, homeowners insurance has helped owners protect their property and belongings against damages and theft. According to the Insurance Information Institute, over 93% of homeowners in the US have homeowners insurance coverage, paying around...

What to Look for in a Criminal Defense Attorney

Originally posted on 10/20/2017 If you are charged with a crime, you could face severe penalties that could include financial fines, public service, or even jail time. For those in the Michigan area, hiring an attorney experienced in...

PROBATE 51: Trust filed a petition to determine title to credit union account.

The probate court explained that the owners of the account are S and J. When S passes, J becomes the owner of the account. J is the one who had the authority to make the designation. Nowhere in any documents is there a designation by J that SJ be the owner -- or the beneficiary of the account. The designation made by his father was no longer binding because he was no longer the owner at the time J passed away.

Invoking Your Right to Remain Silent

Originally posted on 07/19/2017 While the “right to remain silent” represents one of your most inalienable rights, many people have a few misconceptions about how it works. Many people receive their understanding of this...

Arrests made by tracking cell phones may be illegal

Originally posted on 02/10/2017 Law enforcement agencies are always looking for an edge in fighting crime. As cell phones have become an indispensable part of life for many people, authorities have taken to using these devices to track...

Don't let a bad decision, unfair contract, or a messy divorce get in the way of a promising future!
Contact the experienced team at Aldrich Legal Services today to schedule your free initial
consultation
and secure reliable and trustworthy representation today!
Get the Help You Need From a Team You Can Truly Count On: (734) 404-3000
734-237-6482
734-366-4405