Local Success: April, 2019

Below are trial court victories of our subscribers as reported on SADO’s Forum—an online community for criminal defense attorneys. Subscribers are encouraged to submit their stories of success on SADO’s Forum and/or directly to Associate Editor Neil Leithauser at
nleithauserattorney@comcast.net.

Jennifer J. France, Chief Public Defender in Chippewa County, successfully argued an in limine motion to keep out a co-conspirator’s statements and texts as violative of her client’s confrontation rights; the co-conspirator died prior to trial. Also, Kristin Giommi, Deputy Public Defender, obtained a hung-jury, March 12, 2019, in a case charging false report of a misdemeanor.

Steven C. Benson avoided felony charges and habitual offender sentencing for his client, March 5, 2019, when he secured a plea agreement for a misdemeanor and 30-day sentence in the 28th Judicial (Wexford County) Circuit Court.  Mr. Benson also had a life-felony charge reduced after a preliminary examination to a 1-year misdemeanor, March 19, 2019.  

Michael L. Steinberg had a hung-jury (with a breakdown of 7 – 5 to acquit) in an assault with intent to commit murder and felony firearm case.

Larry J. Brown, Jr. won an acquittal of a felony-murder charge, with the jury convicting the client of 1st-degree child abuse, only, in a case involving the death of a 1-year old in the 46th Judicial (Otsego County) Circuit Court. 

Mitchell T. Foster won a not guilty verdict March 29, 2019, in a CSC1 case in the 3rd Judicial (Wayne County) Circuit Court. 

Adil Haradhvala had multiple successes recently, with three in the 16th Judicial (Macomb County) Circuit Court and one in the 6th Judicial (Oakland County) Circuit Court. In Oakland County, Mr. Haradhvala successfully negotiated a plea agreement reducing the charge from a four-year felony to a 90-day misdemeanor. In Macomb County, in one case, Mr. Haradhvala got a 10-year felony dismissed as part of a larger plea agreement. In a second case, a 2-year possession felony was dismissed after a defense motion. In the third Macomb County case, a five-year receiving and concealing charge was negotiated down to a misdemeanor receiving and concealing, with the defendant further being sentenced pursuant to the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act.

by Neil Leithauser
Associate Editor