Portage Criminal Defense Attorney
Portage is Kalamazoo County's second city — a suburban community south of Kalamazoo built around the I-94 and US-131 interchange and the Westnedge Avenue retail corridor. I am Shawn Haff, and I defend people charged with crimes throughout Portage 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 Portage 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. Portage in particular trips people up: the city had its own district court until 1998, and the "South" court listings still floating around online at 7810 Shaver Rd point to what is now the Portage public safety building, not a courtroom.
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 Portage
Portage is policed by the Police Division of the Portage Department of Public Safety, an accredited department that documents its cases carefully — body camera, in-car video and detailed reports are the norm. The city's caseload follows its geography. Crossroads Mall and the big-box stores along Westnedge generate a steady flow of retail fraud, the I-94 and US-131 interchange brings highway OWI and drug stops, and a large student and young-adult population produces the alcohol and minor-in-possession files that come with it.
- Retail fraud from Crossroads Mall and the Westnedge Avenue stores
- OWI, including high-BAC "super drunk" charges from I-94 and US-131
- Drug possession, including prescription stimulants like Adderall
- Minor in possession and fake-ID charges
- Domestic violence and PPO violations
- Embezzlement and employee theft from retail and corporate employers
What Is Actually at Stake
Retail fraud looks small on the ticket and is not small on a background check. Third-degree retail fraud — under $200 — carries up to 93 days, but it is a crime of dishonesty, and that is what employers, licensing boards and landlords screen for. For a young adult, the goal is usually not just a lighter sentence but no conviction at all: HYTA for eligible 18-to-25-year-olds, a deferral, or a dismissal. Kalamazoo County's district court also runs a Sobriety Court for repeat OWI and a Mental Health Recovery Court, which can matter a great deal for the right client.
What to Do Next
If loss prevention asked you to sign a statement or a "civil demand" letter arrived in the mail, do not sign or pay anything until we have talked. A signed admission is the prosecution's best evidence, and a civil demand payment is a separate matter from the criminal case — paying it does not make the charge go away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do Portage criminal cases go now?
To the Judge Charles A. Pratt Justice Center, 330 Eleanor St, Kalamazoo, which houses the 8th District Court and the criminal division of the 9th Circuit Court. Portage has had no court of its own since the Kalamazoo County district courts merged on January 1, 1999, and the county's older courthouses closed in December 2023.
I was stopped for shoplifting at Crossroads Mall. Is this a crime?
Yes — retail fraud is a criminal charge, even under $200. Third-degree retail fraud is a misdemeanor carrying up to 93 days in jail, and the value of the goods sets the degree. For a first offense there are often realistic routes to no conviction at all, but they have to be pursued before a plea.
Does Kalamazoo County have a sobriety court?
Yes. The 8th District Court runs a Sobriety Court for Kalamazoo County residents who plead to a misdemeanor OWI and have a prior offense within seven years, along with a Mental Health Recovery Court. The circuit court runs drug treatment courts for felony cases. Eligibility is limited and admission is argued for, so it should be raised early.
Talk to a Portage 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.