Galesburg Criminal Defense Attorney
Galesburg is a small city in eastern Kalamazoo County on M-96, with an I-94 exit at 35th Street and the Fort Custer Recreation Area just to the east. I am Shawn Haff, and I defend people charged with crimes throughout Galesburg and Kalamazoo 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 Galesburg Case Will Be Heard
Every Kalamazoo County criminal case — misdemeanor or felony — is now heard in one building: the Judge Charles A. Pratt Justice Center at 330 Eleanor St in Kalamazoo, home to both the 8th District Court and the criminal division of the 9th Circuit Court. The county closed its Crosstown and Michigan Avenue courthouses when the Justice Center opened in December 2023, so older paperwork, old online listings and a friend's advice from a few years ago may all send you to the wrong address.
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 8th District Court page for how these cases run.
The Charges I See Most in Galesburg
Galesburg's own police department was disbanded in 2018 and the city has since been patrolled by the Kalamazoo County Sheriff; the council has discussed restarting a department, so the agency on your paperwork is worth checking. Troopers from the MSP Paw Paw Post, which covers Kalamazoo County, work I-94. Most Galesburg cases come off the interstate or M-96: OWI, speeding stops that become vehicle searches, and drug and weapons charges found in the car.
- OWI and drunk driving on I-94 and M-96
- Drug possession and trafficking from interstate stops
- Firearm charges, including carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle
- Driving on a suspended license
- Fleeing and eluding
- Domestic violence and theft
What Is Actually at Stake
A gun found during a traffic stop can turn a speeding ticket into a felony. Carrying a pistol in a vehicle without a valid concealed pistol license is a five-year felony in Michigan, and if any other felony is charged alongside it, felony-firearm adds a mandatory two years that must be served before and in addition to the other sentence. Whether the stop and the search were lawful is often the whole case.
What to Do Next
Do not explain where the gun or the bag came from, even to clear up a misunderstanding. Write down what happened at the stop — the reason you were given, how long it lasted, whether you consented to a search — and call me before your arraignment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who patrols Galesburg?
Since the city's police department was disbanded in 2018, the Kalamazoo County Sheriff has patrolled Galesburg. The city council has voted to explore restarting a department, so check the agency named on your paperwork. Michigan State Police troopers from the Paw Paw Post patrol I-94.
Where will my Galesburg case be heard?
At the Judge Charles A. Pratt Justice Center, 330 Eleanor St, Kalamazoo, which houses the 8th District Court and the 9th Circuit Court's criminal division.
Police found a handgun in my car. Is that a felony?
It can be. Carrying a pistol in a vehicle without a concealed pistol license is a felony under MCL 750.227, and adding any other felony brings felony-firearm, a mandatory consecutive two-year term. There are real defenses — the lawfulness of the stop and search, who actually possessed the gun, and statutory exceptions — and they need to be examined before any plea.
Talk to a Galesburg 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.