Few moments feel as frightening as being charged with a crime, especially if it’s happening to you or someone in your family for the first time in Warren. Mihelich & Kavanaugh, PLC has guided clients throughout the Van Dyke Avenue and Hoover Road area through Michigan’s criminal justice system, always starting from the same premise: you are presumed innocent, you have rights, and how quickly you act now can shape what happens next.

Your Rights Under Michigan Law

Michigan criminal defendants are protected by the same core rights guaranteed nationwide: the right to remain silent, the right to legal counsel, and the presumption of innocence unless the state proves guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Waiting to exercise these rights, even for a few days, can cost you access to evidence or witnesses that matter later, and police questioning often continues even after an arrest unless you clearly assert your right to an attorney. That’s why we encourage anyone facing charges to speak with an attorney before answering additional questions from police or prosecutors, no matter how routine those questions may seem.

These protections apply to everyone facing charges in Warren and throughout Michigan, starting from the moment of arrest rather than only after formal charges are filed. It’s a common misunderstanding that just going quiet is the same as invoking your right to remain silent. Under current law, you generally need to state clearly that you’re exercising that right and that you want an attorney present before questioning continues.

How the Firm Approaches Criminal Defense

We approach every criminal case by first understanding exactly what the prosecution is alleging and how strong their evidence actually is, including whether it was gathered properly. Michael Kavanaugh and our attorneys have handled cases across Macomb County’s district and circuit courts, giving us a practical sense of how local prosecutors and judges tend to handle different types of charges. From there, we build a defence strategy suited to your specific case, whether that means negotiating a resolution, pursuing a diversion program where eligible, or preparing to fight the charges at trial.

That same balance of capability and accessibility traces back to the firm’s founding in 1951 by Joseph E. Mihelich, and it still shapes how we handle criminal cases. You won’t be shuffled between unfamiliar staff who don’t know your situation. You’ll work directly with the attorney handling your defense from the beginning.

What Sets Our Firm Apart

What sets our approach apart isn’t a gimmick, it’s consistency. You’ll work with the same attorney from your first phone call through the resolution of your case, rather than being passed between unfamiliar staff who need to be caught up every time you call. We return calls promptly, especially in the early days after an arrest, explain the process in plain language instead of legal jargon, and give you honest assessments rather than false reassurance. For most clients facing a criminal charge for the first time, that combination of steadiness and straight talk matters just as much as courtroom skill.

Criminal Charges We Handle

Our criminal defense attorneys represent Warren clients facing a wide range of charges, including:

Drunk Driving- OWI, OWVI, and Super Drunk charges under Michigan’s implied consent law, where blood alcohol level and prior history both affect the stakes.
Drug Crimes- Possession, delivery, and manufacturing charges that fall across several controlled substance schedules under Michigan law.
Domestic Violence/PPOs- Defense against domestic violence allegations and representation in personal protection order proceedings.
Assault- Simple and aggravated assault charges, which carry very different potential penalties depending on how they’re classified.
Felonies and Misdemeanors- Representation from arraignment through trial for charges of any severity, in district or circuit court as the case requires.
Juvenile Crimes- Representation for minors facing charges handled through Michigan’s family court system rather than adult criminal court.
Shoplifting/Theft- Retail fraud and theft charges at every degree, from minor misdemeanors to felony-level allegations.

Whatever the charge, we start with the same first step: a careful review of the evidence and the circumstances of the arrest, since that review shapes every decision that follows.

What to Expect After an Arrest

Once you’re arrested, expect an arraignment shortly after, where you’ll hear the formal charges and a judge will set bond conditions. Misdemeanor charges generally stay in district court through pretrial hearings and, if necessary, trial. Felonies follow a similar start but require a probable cause conference and preliminary examination before the case can move to circuit court. Each phase comes with strict deadlines, and missing one can limit your options later, which is why early legal representation matters so much.

The exact timeline varies by charge and by how the court’s schedule is running, but misdemeanor cases generally move faster than felonies since they don’t require a preliminary examination. We’ll keep you updated at each stage so you know what’s coming next, rather than being surprised by a court date or a new deadline.

Protecting Your Record Going Forward

Beyond the immediate case, it’s worth thinking early about how a charge might affect your record long-term. Michigan’s expungement laws have expanded in recent years, and depending on the outcome of your case, certain misdemeanor and even some felony convictions may eventually become eligible to be set aside. Eligibility depends on the type of offense, how much time has passed, and whether you have other convictions on your record. We can talk through what that might look like for your situation once your current case is resolved, since planning for that possibility from the start sometimes affects decisions made earlier in the process, like whether to accept a particular plea offer.

Common Questions & Concerns

Common concerns we hear include whether a charge will affect employment, whether it’s possible to keep a case off the public record, and how long the whole process will take. The honest answer is that it varies by charge type, your history, and the specific facts of the arrest, and we’re not going to guess at an outcome before reviewing your case. Once we do, we’ll walk you through what’s realistic, including options like diversion programs or negotiated resolutions where they apply.

Another question we hear often is what to do about bond conditions, particularly if they restrict travel, contact with certain people, or other everyday activities. Bond terms can sometimes be modified if circumstances change or if the original conditions turn out to be more restrictive than necessary, and we can help evaluate whether that’s worth pursuing in your case.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a criminal charge automatically show up on background checks forever?

It depends on the charge and the outcome. Some resolutions, like certain diversion programs or deferred sentences, can eventually allow for expungement or nondisclosure under Michigan law, while convictions for more serious offenses tend to stay on the record permanently. We can review your specific situation to explain what’s realistic.

Do I need a lawyer if I’m just facing a misdemeanor?

Even misdemeanor convictions in Michigan can carry jail time, fines, and lasting effects on things like employment or driving privileges. Having an attorney review the charges and the evidence often opens up options, like reduced charges or diversion programs, that aren’t obvious without legal guidance.

What happens if I already talked to police before calling a lawyer?

It’s not too late to get help. We’ll review exactly what was said and under what circumstances, since there may be ways to challenge how or when a statement was obtained. The earlier you bring us in after this happens, the more options we typically have to work with.

Can charges be reduced or dismissed before trial?

Sometimes, depending on the strength of the evidence, whether there were procedural issues with the arrest or search, and your criminal history. Prosecutors have discretion to offer reduced charges in many cases, and we regularly negotiate for that outcome when it serves your interests better than proceeding to trial.

Local Courts & Process

Cases arising in Warren are typically handled at the 37th District Court, with felony matters moving to the 16th Circuit Court in Mount Clemens. We’ve represented clients through this exact process, and we also help many Warren families with divorce and custody matters through our Family Law page , since these two areas of law sometimes intersect within the same household. We also regularly represent clients from the surrounding communities near Warren, and that broader experience across Macomb County’s district courts gives us a practical sense of how different judges and prosecutors in this area tend to approach similar charges.

Talk to a Criminal Defense Attorney

If you or someone you love is facing criminal charges in Warren, don’t wait to get answers. Call our Shelby Township office at (586) 884-6562 or reach out through our Contact page today. We’ll review what you’re facing, explain your rights and realistic options, and start working on your defense right away. The sooner we’re involved, the more options we typically have to work with, so there’s real value in reaching out even before you’re certain what you need. Reaching out doesn’t commit you to anything beyond that first conversation, and understanding your rights and options early often makes a real difference in how the rest of your case unfolds.