Muskegon Criminal Defense Attorney
Muskegon is the county seat and the largest city on Michigan's west shore north of Grand Rapids — a working port on Muskegon Lake with a deep-water harbour, a heavy industrial history, and a summer season that transforms the waterfront. I am Shawn Haff, and I defend people charged with crimes throughout Muskegon 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 Muskegon Case Will Be Heard
Both courts share a building, which makes this simpler than most of the county. Misdemeanors and the first stages of a felony go to the 60th District Court in the Michael E. Koza Hall of Justice at 990 Terrace St, and felonies are tried at the 14th Circuit Court in the same building.
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 Muskegon
Muskegon's caseload is genuinely urban in a way that the rest of the lakeshore is not. US-31 and Seaway Drive carry the traffic and the OWI stops; the downtown, Heritage Landing, and the summer festival calendar generate assault, disorderly conduct, and weapons charges; and the city sees the volume of drug and felony prosecutions you would expect in a county of this size. The 14th Circuit Court is a busy felony court, and it is not a forgiving one.
- OWI and drunk driving on US-31, Seaway Dr, and Apple Ave
- Drug possession, delivery, and trafficking charges
- Felonious assault, domestic violence, and violent-crime charges
- Firearm and weapons charges, including felon-in-possession and carrying concealed
- Home invasion, larceny, and retail fraud
- Criminal sexual conduct and other charges carrying registry consequences
What Is Actually at Stake
Felony exposure in the 14th Circuit is real, and the difference between outcomes is usually made long before trial — at the preliminary examination in district court, in what the prosecutor is told about the case, and in whether anyone has actually tested the evidence rather than negotiating around it. A charge that is bound over unexamined tends to stay exactly as charged.
What to Do Next
The preliminary examination is not a formality to be waived for a small concession. It is the one early chance to put the prosecution's witnesses on the record under oath, and what comes out of it frequently decides what the case is worth. Do not give it away without understanding what you are giving away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which courts handle Muskegon criminal cases?
The 60th District Court handles misdemeanors and felony arraignments and preliminary examinations, and the 14th Circuit Court tries felonies. Both are at 990 Terrace St in Muskegon, in the Michael E. Koza Hall of Justice.
Should I waive the preliminary examination?
Rarely, and never without a specific reason. The exam forces the prosecution to put on witnesses under oath early, which locks in testimony, exposes weaknesses, and often reveals what the case actually is rather than what the report claims. It is routinely waived in exchange for very little, and that is usually a mistake.
What makes a firearm charge in Muskegon serious?
Michigan treats several weapons offenses as felonies with substantial consequences, and some carry mandatory consecutive time when a firearm is tied to another felony. Whether the prosecution can actually establish possession — legal possession, not merely proximity — is frequently the live question, and it is worth litigating rather than assuming.
Talk to a Muskegon 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.