Articles Posted in Drug Crimes

When it comes to prescription drugs and driving, there are several crucial factors you need to be aware of to protect your safety and comply with Michigan law. While prescription medications are often prescribed to treat various medical conditions, they can also have significant effects on your ability to drive safely. Understanding the potential risks and legal implications of driving under the influence of prescription drugs is essential if you live in Michigan. If you find yourself facing legal issues related to driving under the influence of prescription drugs, seeking the help of a skilled lawyer is crucial. At Michigan...

The majority of times in a domestic violence, one or both of the parties have been drinking alcohol. It’s rare to see drugs as the cause of anger. In fact, drugs are less often involved in domestic violence cases than just two sober people who get into an argument, but alcohol is very frequently involved. Sometimes it makes the case worse, and sometimes it doesn’t because we are able to convince the court that there is not an alcohol problem there, but for a particular situation combined with the use of alcohol, this never would occur. Alcohol can make the...

Attorney Paul Tafelski is a criminal defense attorney who has been handling drug-related cases in Michigan for almost 20 years. He sees a number of different types of cases, related to every kind of situation you might imagine. At Michigan Defense Law, our Michigan criminal defense lawyers, led by attorney Tafelski,  have a deep understanding of Michigan’s drug laws and can fight to safeguard your interests. A drug charge can have severe consequences, it is crucial to seek legal guidance from a skilled lawyer when facing drug charge penalties in Michigan. Our lawyers can provide the legal representation that you...

Recently a state appellate court issued a per curiam decision in a defendant’s appeal of her Michigan drug offense conviction. The case arose when officers discovered a bag of cocaine in a store dressing room. An officer approached the defendant and her friend inquiring about the drugs, and the defendant admitted that the cocaine was hers. The defendant unsuccessfully motioned to suppress her confession because they were given involuntarily and in violation of her Miranda rights. A jury convicted the defendant of possession of cocaine. The officer testified that he did not threaten, restrain, or block her ability to exit...

Recently, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled that judges can no longer prohibit defendants from using medical marijuana as part of their probation. The defendant was charged with assault and battery following a road rage incident. He pleaded guilty, and the judge sentenced him to one year of probation. A condition of probation was that the defendant was not to use marijuana, including medical marijuana. To speak with a top-rated probation violation lawyer, please call us today. In response, the defendant filed a motion arguing that the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act (MMMA) entitles individuals to certain protections, such as protection...

In a recent opinion from a Michigan court involving drug possession, the prosecution asked for the court to reconsider its previous order allowing the defendant to suppress incriminating evidence against him. The defendant had filed a motion to suppress evidence and dismiss charges of possession of a controlled substance less than 25 grams and possession of marijuana. The trial court agreed with the defendant that the drugs should not be used as evidence against him, as the police officer that looked in his car had not followed the correct departmental protocols while conducting the search. The higher court in Michigan...

Recently, a state appellate court issued an opinion in a Michigan operating while visibly impaired (OWVI) case involving the defendant’s claim that the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act (MMMA) prevents him from being charged. However, ultimately, the court disagreed, affirming his conviction. A Michigan OWVI offense is similar to an operating while intoxicated (OWI) offense, except that it does not require proof of intoxication. Instead, the prosecution can proceed under the theory that a defendant was visibly intoxicated. In an OWVI case, the prosecution does not need to present any proof that the defendant was actually intoxicated, only that they were...

Recently, a Michigan appellate court issued an opinion stemming from a defendant’s motion to suppress evidence based on his Fourth Amendment rights to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. In this case, the defendant was a passenger in a vehicle. The police pulled over the vehicle for having cracks in the windshield. When deputies approached the car, they noticed firearms on the floor, sitting in front of the defendant. The deputies searched the car and discovered that the gun was loaded. They also discovered heroin and cocaine behind the passenger door handle. The defendant was charged with several serious...

Recently, a state appellate court issued a written opinion in a Michigan marijuana case in which the defendant argued that the identity of the confidential informant used by law enforcement should be disclosed. Ultimately, the court concluded that the defendant was not entitled to the disclosure and affirmed the defendant’s conviction for both the distribution of marijuana as well as a firearms offense. The Facts of the Case According to the court’s opinion, police officers were tipped off by a confidential informant that the defendant was selling marijuana from his home in Pontiac, Michigan. As officers arrived at the defendant’s...

Last month, a state appellate court issued an opinion in a Michigan drug case discussing whether police officers had probable cause to arrest the defendant for the distribution of drugs. Ultimately, the court concluded that, while the defendant was not the one selling the drugs, his presence at the scene as well as his conduct, gave officers probable cause to arrest him. The Facts of the Case According to the court’s opinion, undercover police officers arranged to buy LSD from a woman at the Electric Forest Music Festival. When officers met up with the woman, she was accompanied by the...