Ingham County Criminal Defense Attorney



TYPES OF CRIMINAL CHARGES IN INGHAM COUNTY


In Ingham County, and all over the state of Michigan there are two general categories of crimes: misdemeanors and felonies. 


  • Misdemeanor: is a criminal offense that can result in you being sentenced to the Ingham County Jail for up to one year if you are convicted.


  • Felony: is a criminal offense that can result in you being sentenced to state prison for at least one year. The more serious the felony, the longer you can potentially be sentenced to prison. For certain capital offenses, you can even be sentenced to up to life in prison without the possibility of parole. 


There is no death penalty in Michigan, a life sentence without the possibility of parole is the state’s equivalent. Depending on the severity of the crime, both misdemeanors and felonies are broken into categories and levels. If you are facing a criminal charge in or around Ingham County, MI, then it is important to seek the advice of an experienced Ingham County criminal defense attorney.


PROSECUTING AUTHORITIES IN INGHAM COUNTY


If you are being prosecuted for a criminal offense in Ingham County, there are two main prosecuting authorities with who you may be dealing. The prosecutors in Ingham County include:


  • Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office: This office is operated by the state of Michigan and the current elected prosecutor for Ingham County is Carol A. Siemon. All state misdemeanor charges and all state felonies that arise in Lansing are handled by the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office. The Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office is located at: 
  • 303 W. Kalamazoo St., 4R

Lansing, MI 48933

(517) 483-6272 (office)

(517) 483-6397 (fax)


  • Lansing City Attorney: This office is operated by the city of Lansing and the current elected prosecutor for Lansing is James D. Smiertka. All city misdemeanor charges and civil infractions are handled by the Lansing City Attorney. The Lansing City Attorney’s Office is located at:
  • 124 W. Michigan Ave. #5

Lansing, MI 48933

(517) 483-4320


If you are dealing with an East Lansing city offense, then you may be dealing with the East Lansing City Attorney’s Office headed by Michael Homier. It is not recommended to speak directly to any prosecutor or their office if you are potentially facing a criminal charge. If you have a potential or actual criminal charge against you, then it is important to have an experienced criminal defense attorney help you in speaking with the appropriate prosecutor’s office. 


INGHAM COUNTY COURTS WHICH HEAR CRIMINAL CASES


Criminal cases in the Ingham County area are first heard in one of the three district courts depending on where the crime is alleged to have taken place:


  • 54A District Court: This court only hears criminal cases that were alleged to have taken place in the city of Lansing.
  • 54B District Court: This court only hears criminal cases that were alleged to have taken place in the city of East Lansing.
  • 55th District Court: This court only hears criminal cases that were alleged to have taken place anywhere in Ingham County outside of Lansing and East Lansing.


If you are charged a felony offense, then your case will be directed to Ingham County Circuit Court if a prosecutor can demonstrate to a district court judge enough probable cause that the charged criminal offense was committed, and that you committed the offense. If this happens, then the charge would be “bound over” and sent to the circuit court for all future proceedings. If your felony charge is bound over in the Lansing area, it would be directed to:


  • 30th Circuit Court: This court only hears felony cases that were alleged to have taken place within Ingham County.


You will randomly be assigned one of several Circuit Court judges who will oversee your case. It is important to retain a lawyer who has enough experience in front of all of your potential judgers to have a good idea of what to expect and how to defend your case most effectively. 


WHAT IF I HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT MY CASE?


If you are facing a criminal charge in or around Ingham County, then it is important to speak to an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately. Finding websites such as this can be a great starting point, but the information found on websites cannot serve as a substitute for the advice of an experienced lawyer. If you have specific questions about your potential or actual criminal charge, then the attorneys at Zeineh Law are available to help you now. 


THE ZEINEH LAW DIFFERENCE


For a prosecutor to be successful, he or she must demonstrate beyond a reasonable doubt that you committed a criminal offense without any acceptable legal defense. Was there a sincere, honest mistake in the alleged facts and events? Are you able to show that while things might look one way at first, nothing unlawful actually happened? To be most successful in your defense, your attorney should be able to answer these questions. Simply saying the prosecutor didn’t prove their case might be considered effective by some law firms, not at Zeineh Law. At Zeineh Law we realize that running our own investigation from our side is the best way to answer these and other necessary questions in organizing your defense. Just as a prosecutor will use his or her resources to build a criminal case against you, you can use your resources to build your defense in the same way. At Zeineh Law, we don’t limit your defense by simply trying to explain the prosecutor’s version of events. We defend cases by going on offense, by advancing your version of events based on evidence obtained in our private investigations. This way, a jury has an actual alternative version of events to consider when deciding a verdict and doesn’t simply have to agree or disagree with the prosecutor’s version of events. 


ZEINEH LAW PROUDLY OFFERS A FREE CONSULTATION


If you are facing a criminal charge in or around Ingham County, MI, then it is important to speak to an experienced Ingham County criminal defense attorney immediately. At Zeineh Law, we are proud to offer FREE consultations to all prospective clients. If you are trying to decide which attorney to choose or are looking for an honest assessment of your criminal case, then our attorneys are available to help you now. Feel free to contact us anytime at (517) 292-7000 or by email. Our advice is free, and our discussions will always be protected by the attorney-client privilege. Make your first choice towards freedom with a consultation with an experienced criminal defense attorney at Zeineh Law today.