Montague Criminal Defense Attorney
Montague sits across White Lake from Whitehall, at the mouth of the White River in northern Muskegon County — a small city, quiet most of the year, and the northern trailhead for the rail-trail that runs up the lakeshore. I am Shawn Haff, and I defend people charged with crimes throughout Montague and Muskegon 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 Montague Case Will Be Heard
Montague cases go to the 60th District Court at 990 Terrace St in Muskegon for misdemeanors and felony arraignments, and to the 14th Circuit Court in the same building for felony trials. It is roughly a half-hour drive south, and there is no closer court.
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 60th District Court page for how these cases run.
The Charges I See Most in Montague
Water and the trail define the summer here — boating under the influence and personal-watercraft cases on White Lake and the river, minor in possession and open intoxicant along the waterfront and the trail, and the disorderly conduct that comes with holiday weekends in a town that triples in size. US-31 handles the rest, producing OWI and drug stops the year round.
- Boating under the influence on White Lake and the White River, under MCL 324.80176 at the same 0.08 limit as a car
- OWI and drunk driving on US-31, Water St, and Dowling St
- Minor in possession, open intoxicant, and disorderly conduct
- Drug crimes and marijuana charges over the legal limit
- Domestic violence and assault
- Theft from docks, cottages, and vehicles left overnight
What Is Actually at Stake
A summer charge does not stay in the summer. It goes on the same record an employer, a landlord, or a licensing board pulls, and for a young person an alcohol charge from one weekend can surface years later in an application nobody was thinking about at the time. The penalty is usually manageable; the record is the part that lasts.
What to Do Next
Do not assume a charge quietly went away because nobody contacted you. Unresolved matters turn into warrants, and a warrant tends to surface at a traffic stop years later in another state. If you are not certain where an old case stands, it takes one call to find out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which court handles a Montague case?
The 60th District Court at 990 Terrace St in Muskegon for misdemeanors and felony arraignments, and the 14th Circuit Court in the same building for felony trials.
Is boating under the influence treated the same as drunk driving?
The threshold is the same — 0.08 — and it is charged under MCL 324.80176. A first offense is a misdemeanor carrying up to 93 days in jail, a $100 to $500 fine, and up to 45 days of community service, and it can suspend your right to operate a motorboat. It is a criminal conviction on your record, not a boating ticket.
I never heard anything after my arrest. Is the case over?
Do not assume so. Charges are sometimes issued weeks or months after an arrest, and an unresolved case or a missed date becomes a bench warrant that sits there indefinitely — surfacing at the next traffic stop, sometimes in another state. Checking costs nothing and is a great deal better than finding out at the roadside.
Talk to a Montague 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.