Martin Criminal Defense Attorney
Martin is a village of a few hundred in central Allegan County, sitting on US-131 between Wayland and Plainwell. It is small enough that a charge is common knowledge before the first hearing. I am Shawn Haff, and I defend people charged with crimes throughout Martin 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 Martin Case Will Be Heard
Martin and Martin Township cases go to the 57th District Court at 113 Chestnut St in Allegan for misdemeanors and felony arraignments, and to the 48th Circuit Court in the same courthouse for felony trials.
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 Martin
US-131 runs the length of the village, and that highway is the caseload. Traffic enforcement on this stretch is heavy, and a stop for speed or an equipment violation is frequently the doorway to something else — an OWI investigation, a vehicle search, a warrant that surfaces when the license is run. Very few Martin cases start with a call to the police; most start with a set of headlights in the mirror.
- OWI and drunk driving on US-131 and on 12th Street
- Drug possession, delivery, and trafficking charges from highway searches
- Driving on a suspended license and related traffic crimes
- Firearm and weapons charges, including transport questions in a rural county
- Domestic violence and assault
- Theft and retail fraud
What Is Actually at Stake
Highway cases turn on two questions and almost nothing else: was there a lawful basis for the stop, and was there a lawful basis for what happened after it. Michigan officers may not hold you at the roadside longer than the reason for the stop reasonably requires. If the ticket was written and you were still sitting there twenty minutes later waiting for a second unit, that delay is the defense.
What to Do Next
Do not consent to a search because refusing feels rude. Declining is not evidence of guilt and it cannot be used against you, and once consent is given the strongest argument in the case usually goes with it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does a Martin case go?
To the 57th District Court, 113 Chestnut St, Allegan, for misdemeanors and felony arraignments, and to the 48th Circuit Court in the same courthouse for felonies.
They found something in my car after a US-131 stop. Is that automatically a conviction?
No. The first question is whether the stop itself was lawful, and the second is whether the search that followed was. A stop may not be extended past the time reasonably needed for its own purpose, and a search is limited by whatever justified it. If either fails, a motion to suppress can remove the evidence — and these cases rarely survive without it.
Do I need a lawyer for a first offense in a village this small?
Yes, and arguably more so. A first misdemeanor becomes a permanent record that appears on background checks for employment, housing, and licensing, and in a community this size the social cost arrives long before the sentence does. A deferral or diversion that ends in dismissal is often available on a first offense — but usually only if it is set up before the first plea.
Talk to a Martin 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.