Crimes

January 28, 2018

Top 10 Michigan DNR Investigation Strategies For Wildlife Violations

The great outdoors is suddenly not so great when DNR writes you a ticket. The freedom you felt enjoying nature is now crushed and your day, season, and future hunting seasons are maybe ruined. Many people do not know that some hunting violations (if convicted as charged) require a mandatory jail sentence. Unfortunately, in the eyes of the State of Michigan the wildlife is its property and it determines the rules as to how you can lawfully possess it. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse – that is why they give out the Michigan Hunting and Trapping Digest at the start of every season. Because the state of Michigan are stewards of our natural resources, the DNR is charged with the enforcement of any violations of conservation laws and they take that responsibility seriously!

images-300x168
It is always a good idea to understand the process of how a DNR officer may perform his or her duties. This is even important for the sportsman or sportswoman who tries to do everything by the book. Why? It is possible for someone to unintentionally violate the law. The conservation laws change from time to time. Perhaps you were not aware of a change as it related to baiting? Maybe the fish possession or size limit changed from one season to the next? In some instances you might be accused of doing something unlawfully even through it isn’t true.

images-1
The following is my list of the top 10 Michigan DNR Investigation Strategies for Wildlife Violations:

January 19, 2018

Probation Violation? -12 Proven and Effective Strategies to Reduce Jail Possibility (100% Legal)

by Hilf & Hilf, PLC

Jail for a probation violation? Seriously? With a probation violation the Judge has that option.

Being incarcerated is no place for anyone to be. Losing your job, losing a place to live, having to start over from scratch – life is hard enough without all this stress. But maybe the Judge made things impossible. You worry about work, worry about family, paying bills, and on top of that the Court is having you drug test, go to support meetings, hours and hours of community service. It seems like maybe the Court does not want you to be successful. You try your best and you still receive a letter in the mail for probation violation. Your heart is racing. Stress, anxiety, fear take over. You ask yourself what should you do?

These are 12 proven and effective strategies that give you the best chance of avoiding jail. This advice is from a seasoned lawyer with years of experience both inside and outside the courtroom.

January 15, 2018

Probation for Shoplifting

by Hilf & Hilf, PLC

A common question when someone is arrested for retail fraud is: “Will I be placed on probation?”. Another common question is: “Can I avoid Jail?”. When a person is arrested there is often a fear of the unknown. “What will happen to me?”. “What will the Judge do?”. Although probation is common for shoplifting, it is not guaranteed.

images
All retail fraud/shoplifting cases are criminal cases, which means that the Judge always has the discretion to impose jail as a condition of bond or sentence. There are a lot of different factors that can influence what will happen:

The Defendant’s prior history. Obviously, the worse a person’s prior record the more likely incarceration becomes an option. This is especially true when the prior history also involves shoplifting. When the charge is a Felony (1st Degree Retail Fraud or Organized Retail Fraud), the Defendant’s prior record is a factor in the computation of sentencing guidelines. In Michigan, sentence guidelines are an advisory sentence range for a Judge to consider which is determined by the scoring of prior record and offense related variables. Although sentencing guidelines are advisory, they are influential in terms of how a Judge determines the sentence.

January 12, 2018

Removing a No Contact Order in a Domestic Violence Case

by Hilf & Hilf, PLC

No contact orders are very common when it comes to domestic violence allegations. This type of order prevents a Defendant from having contact with an alleged victim. It may also prevent a Defendant from returning to a home address. These types of orders cause a lot of chaos, disruption, and hardship in people’s lives and family. No contact orders are also often contrary to what the alleged victim wants.

Removing a no contact order, in many cases, is not easy. Violations of bond conditions including no contact orders can lead to jail.

How to remove a no contact order. There is no guaranteed method, because Judges have a lot of discretion in Michigan when it comes to setting the conditions of bond. However, there are a number of different steps that a Defendant may take that will help him or her improve the odds that the no contact order will be lifted:

January 8, 2018

Retail Fraud Plea Bargain

by Hilf & Hilf, PLC

A charge of retail fraud can have lasting consequences on a person’s life. In some circumstances a conviction for retail fraud may result in any of the following: loss of employment; licensing issues for professionals; immigration consequences for persons that are not United States citizens; trouble with traveling to foreign countries due to visa issues; damage to reputation; etc.. When placed on probation for retail fraud, there are potential consequences for being on probation, including: incarceration; financial issues (payment of fines, court costs, restitution, crime victim’s rights fees, cost of drug/alcohol testing; cost of counseling); loss of rights/privileges; inability to travel out of state; loss of days of work due to court related issues; fear; stress; etc.

In some instances the case is defensible, and you need a great lawyer to fight for you.

In some instances the case is not defensible, and you need a great lawyer to help you make the best out of a bad situation.

January 4, 2018

Civil Demand Letter for Retail Fraud Accusation

by Hilf & Hilf, PLC

In Michigan when a person is accused by a store, detained by loss prevention, or arrested by police, for retail fraud it is not uncommon for that person to receive a letter in the mail asking for civil damages. These are referred to as Civil Demand Letters. The letter is usually from a lawyer or law firm that often is not even from the state of Michigan (for example, for Walmart cases in Michigan involving alleged shoplifting the law offices of Michael Iran Asen, P.C. in Greenvale, New York handles these civil matters). People who receive these letters often have many questions.

Unknown-1
Are civil demand letters in Michigan legal? Yes. Michigan Compiled Law 600.2953 allows the merchant to send these letters. This law provides that a merchant who is a victim can seek the following:

the full price of any unrecovered property;

January 3, 2018

Felony Retail Fraud

by Hilf & Hilf, PLC

images
There are 3 different ways a person can be charged with felony retail fraud:

First, an allegation of theft, or attempted theft, from a store that is open to the public with the price of the merchandise being $1000 (one thousand dollars) or more. This is referred to as First Degree Retail Fraud.

Second, an allegation of theft, or attempted theft, from a store that is open to the public with the a price of the merchandise being $200 (two hundred dollars) or more, if the person has a prior theft conviction. This is also referred to as First Degree Retail Fraud.

December 22, 2017

Penalties for Unlawfully Taking a Deer in Michigan

by Hilf & Hilf, PLC

images-300x166
The State of Michigan imposes very steep penalties for unlawfully taking a deer and/or poaching of a deer. The law concerning the penalty is contained in Michigan Compiled Law (MCL) 324.40118 and MCL 324.40119, and includes the following:

A misdemeanor criminal conviction;
Imprisonment for not more than 90 days (see MCL 324.40118(3)). For persons with 2 convictions for this offense within 5 years, the imprisonment becomes a maximum of 180 days (see MCL 324.40118(17));

December 8, 2017

Gun Conviction and Immigration Law

by Hilf & Hilf, PLC

A gun conviction can carry extremely severe immigration consequences for persons that are not United States citizens. INA section 237(a)(2)(C) makes convictions under federal, state, and local laws for firearms offenses deportable. The list of offenses that fall under this provision is very broad. Even very minor firearm convictions, such as negligent discharge of a gun, brandishing a pistol, unlawful transport of a firearm, etc., can all potentially lead to deportation. Many firearms offenses (not all) are considered to be aggravated felonies that can lead to deportability, inadmissibility, and denial of adjustment of status. One such offense that is noteworthy is the possession of a firearm by an illegal alien or an alien in non-immigration status (see 18 USC section 922(g)(5). Also, if a sentence of 1 year or more is imposed on a crime of violence conviction, it is also considered to be an aggravated felony (see INA section 101(a)(43)(F).

images-2
Is it ever legal for aliens to possess firearms? In some limited cases, yes. An alien who has been lawfully admitted to the United States under a non-immigration visa who is admitted to the United States for for lawful hunting or sporting purposes, or is in possession of a hunting license or permit lawfully issued in the United States may possess lawful firearms under 18 USC section 922(y)(2)(A). Lawful Permanent Residents (green card holders) can also possess firearms as long as they follow the applicable state, federal, and local laws to do so. Even an alien or green card holder that lawfully possesses or uses a firearm may run into trouble with their immigration status for firearms related violations. It is advisable that an alien or green card holder who wants to possess or use firearms consult with a lawyer, and receive proper training, so he or she specifically understand what the law requires. Again, even a relatively minor gun violation can result in catastrophic immigration consequences.

Unknown-300x136
Deportability for a firearms offense will trigger mandatory detention. This means that a non citizen who is in immigration proceedings for a firearm related conviction will be held in immigration custody while removal proceedings are pending (see INA section 236(c)(1)(B). An immigration judge will be without jurisdiction to set a bond when mandatory detention applies.

November 29, 2017

Is it a defense that I did not know my license was suspended?

by Hilf & Hilf, PLC

Unknown
In Michigan the of driving while license suspended, revoked, or denied (DWLS) is a misdemeanor that carries for a first offense a maximum jail sentence of 93 days and a fine of not more than $500. A conviction for this offense will result in a suspension of driving privileges. It is not common for a person who is charged with DWLS to claim that they did not know that there license was suspended at the time. This situation is completely possible. Reasons for this may be the person believed that a family member paid or handled the ticket for them, they were not told that they had to pay a clearance fee on the ticket to reinstate driving privileges when they paid a ticket, somebody else used their name or identification while driving, they never received a notice from the Court or Michigan Secretary of State that the license was suspended.

It does not seem fair that a person could have a misdemeanor offense permanently affixed to their criminal and driving record when there was no intent to break the law. A conviction for DWLS is permanently affixed to a criminal record, because DWLS (pursuant to MCL 257.904) is written under the Michigan Vehicle Code, and offenses under the Michigan Vehicle Code are not subject to expungement. It is rather sad because this isn’t really even a case of ignorance of the law (which is never a defense), but more of the ignorance of an important fact that lead to a criminal charge. Had the person known of this important fact, in many cases the individual would have either not driven or took the steps necessary to have the driver’s license status corrected or restored so the offense would never have occurred.

images
What does Michigan law say as it relates to intent? According to Michigan Criminal Jury Instruction 15.20 the prosecution has 4 elements that it must prove beyond a reasonable doubt for a conviction to occur for the offense of driving while license suspended or revoked: