Fennville Criminal Defense Attorney
Fennville sits in the orchard and wine country of western Allegan County, a short drive from the Lake Michigan shoreline. It is a small city with a large agricultural workforce and a population that swings with the growing season. I am Shawn Haff, and I defend people charged with crimes throughout Fennville and Allegan County. If you have been arrested, or you know you are under investigation, talk to a defense lawyer before you talk to anyone else. The call is free and I am available 24/7 at 616-438-6719.
Where Your Fennville Case Will Be Heard
Fennville cases are handled by the 57th District Court at 113 Chestnut St in Allegan for misdemeanors and felony arraignments, with felonies tried at the Allegan County 48th Circuit Court in the same courthouse.
Knowing the building is the easy part. What matters is knowing how that particular bench handles a first offense, which prosecutor has room to negotiate, and what the local diversion options actually are — see my 57th District Court page for how these cases run.
The Charges I See Most in Fennville
Rural policing produces its own pattern: long stretches of M-89 and 62nd Street where a stop is one officer's word against yours with no cameras nearby, drug and paraphernalia charges that come out of those stops, and the transportation problems that make a suspended license cascade into more charges.
- OWI on M-89, 62nd St, and the county roads
- Driving while license suspended, which in a place with no transit alternative tends to repeat and escalate
- Drug and paraphernalia charges arising from rural traffic stops
- Domestic violence and assault
- Theft and property charges
- Expungement to clear a record that is blocking work
What's Actually at Stake in a Fennville Case
A suspended-license charge is the one I most often see spiral. You need to get to work, there is no bus, so you drive — and each new charge makes reinstatement harder and the next penalty worse. Breaking that cycle usually means addressing the underlying suspension and the outstanding fines together, not just defending the newest ticket.
What to Do Next in Fennville
If you are working seasonally or your immigration status is unsettled, tell me at the consultation. Some pleas that look harmless carry consequences well beyond the sentence, and the right approach may be a different charge rather than a shorter one.
Fennville Criminal Defense FAQ
Where will my Fennville case be heard?
At the 57th District Court, 113 Chestnut St in Allegan, for misdemeanors and felony arraignments, and at the 48th Circuit Court in the same building for felony trials.
I keep getting charged with driving on a suspended license. What can I do?
Defending the newest charge alone rarely fixes anything. The durable solution usually means dealing with the original suspension and any outstanding fines or failures to appear at the same time, so that reinstatement becomes possible. That is a plan worth building deliberately rather than one hearing at a time.
Do you handle cases for people who work seasonally in the area?
Yes. I defend both year-round residents and seasonal workers, and I make sure you understand every court date and every option — including deferrals that end in dismissal, and which pleas carry consequences beyond the sentence.
Talk to a Fennville Defense Lawyer Today
A criminal charge moves fast, and the first days matter most. Call me directly at 616-438-6719 for a free, confidential consultation — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.