Saugatuck Criminal Defense Attorney
Saugatuck is one of Michigan's premier Lake Michigan resort towns — an arts colony and getaway that draws visitors and second-home owners from across the Midwest. It is small, but the stakes for the people who live and vacation here are anything but. I'm Shawn Haff, and I defend people charged with crimes throughout Saugatuck and Allegan County. If you have been arrested or you know you are under investigation, the smartest move you can make is to talk to a defense lawyer before you talk to anyone else. The call is free, and I'm available 24/7 at 616-438-6719.
Where Your Saugatuck Case Will Be Heard
Saugatuck cases are handled by the 57th District Court in Allegan for misdemeanors and felony arraignments, and felonies are tried at the Allegan County 48th Circuit Court, also in Allegan. I regularly make the drive to defend clients in both.
Charges I Defend in Saugatuck
I handle the full range of criminal cases in and around Saugatuck, including:
- OWI / drunk driving and repeat-offense OWI
- Domestic violence and assault charges
- Drug crimes — possession, delivery, and manufacturing
- Marijuana charges over the legal limit or with intent to deliver
- Retail fraud, larceny, and other theft crimes
- Criminal sexual conduct and other felonies
- Weapons and firearm charges
- Probation violations and expungement to clear an old record
Why Local Experience Matters
Resort towns generate a very specific set of charges: summer OWI and boating-under-the-influence on the water and US-31, minor-in-possession and open-intoxicant tickets downtown, disorderly conduct, and retail fraud. A visitor's mistake or a resident's one bad night should not become a permanent record — I fight to make sure it doesn't.
I don't just show up and take a plea. I read the police reports, watch the bodycam and dashcam footage, test whether the stop and any search were legal, and look for the constitutional problems that can get evidence thrown out — and cases dismissed. When trial is the right answer, I'm ready to try it. When a deferral, diversion, or reduction is the better outcome, I know how to get it.
Frequently Asked Questions
I was arrested in Saugatuck while visiting. Do I have to come back for court?
You will have court dates in Allegan County, but as your attorney I can appear on your behalf for many hearings so you are not driving back and forth. I will tell you exactly which dates require you.
Where are Saugatuck cases heard?
At the 57th District Court in Allegan for misdemeanors, and at the 48th Circuit Court in Allegan for felonies.
Talk to a Saugatuck 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. No receptionist, no voicemail, just a straight conversation about how to defend your case.