Grant Criminal Defense Attorney
Grant is a small city on M-37 in the southwest of Newaygo County, in the farming country between Muskegon and the Muskegon River — close enough to Grand Rapids that many residents make the commute. I am Shawn Haff, and I defend people charged with crimes throughout Grant and Newaygo 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 Grant Case Will Be Heard
Grant cases go to the 78th District Court at 1092 Newell St in White Cloud, with felonies tried at the 27th Circuit Court at the same address. That is a drive of half an hour or so north, and it is the only court that hears these cases — Kent County's courts are closer but have nothing to do with a Newaygo County charge.
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 78th District Court page for how these cases run.
The Charges I See Most in Grant
M-37 is the artery, carrying commuters south to Grand Rapids and traffic north to the river country, and the stops made on it produce most of Grant's serious cases. Beyond that the pattern is agricultural: seasonal labour, shared vehicles, equipment theft from farms and outbuildings, and license problems that compound because there is no way to reach a job site without driving.
- OWI and drunk driving on M-37 and the county roads
- Drug possession and delivery charges arising from traffic stops and vehicle searches
- Driving on a suspended license, which compounds quickly for a commuter
- Theft of equipment, tools, and fuel from farms and outbuildings
- Domestic violence and assault
- Probation violations and warrants from missed court dates
What Is Actually at Stake
Suspended-license charges are the quiet trap in a rural county with a commuting population. An unpaid fine suspends the license; driving to work adds a criminal charge; the charge extends the suspension; and within a year someone who started with a traffic ticket is looking at jail. It is reversible — but only by clearing the underlying holds rather than fighting the newest charge on its own.
What to Do Next
Bring everything, including the old paperwork you assume is closed. The suspension nobody told you about is usually sitting in a file you already have, and finding it is half the work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which court handles a Grant case?
The 78th District Court at 1092 Newell St in White Cloud for misdemeanors and felony arraignments, and the 27th Circuit Court at the same address for felony trials. Grant is in Newaygo County, so Kent County's courts are not involved however much closer they are.
I keep getting charged with driving while suspended. How do I break the cycle?
By clearing the suspension itself rather than each new charge. Michigan holds stack — an unpaid fine, an old failure to appear, a prior conviction — and each time you drive you generate a fresh criminal charge that extends the suspension further. The route out is to identify every hold on the record and resolve them deliberately.
Somebody took equipment from my farm and I was the one charged. What now?
Then the case turns on what the prosecution can actually prove about possession and intent, not on what the report assumes. Rural theft cases are frequently built on proximity and inference rather than evidence, and they are worth testing properly before anyone talks about a plea.
Talk to a Grant 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.