Local Success: September & October 2017

Below are trial court victories of our subscribers as reported on SADO’s Forum—an online community for criminal defense attorneys. Subscribers are encouraged to submit their stories of success on SADO’s Forum and/or directly to Associate Editor Neil Leithauser at nleithauserattorney@comcast.net. SADO’s CDRC Subscription information is available by contacting Heather Waara at hwaara@sado.org.

Adrienne N. Young, a SADO Assistant Defender, had recent success in the 14th Judicial (Muskegon County) Circuit Court. In the case of People v. Jeffrey Atwood, both Ms. Young and Mr. Atwood, in supplemental pleadings, raised issues and arguments relating to the scoring of certain sentencing variables. Ultimately, a new minimum sentence, 1 1/2 years lower than the original sentence, was obtained.

Jonathan B. D. Simon won a not guilty verdict in an assault case in the 36th Judicial District Court (Detroit).

Patrick S. Fragel won a not guilty verdict September 9, 2017, from a jury in a CSC1 case in the 19th Judicial (Benzie County) Circuit Court.

Jennifer J. France, of the Chippewa County Public Defender’s Office, obtained dismissal September 14, 2017, of an involuntary manslaughter charge in a case with several years of procedural difficulty, appeals, and motions to suppress.

Liane Kufchock won dismissal of two counts of tampering with an electronic monitoring device.

 Michael L. Steinberg won a lesser offense conviction from a jury in an armed robbery case September 19, 2017, in the 6th Judicial (Oakland County) Circuit Court.
John W. Ujlaky recently secured extra sentence-credit for two clients. In a case in the 14th Judicial (Muskegon County) Circuit Court, Mr. Ujlaky obtained an extra 104 days, and in a case in the 48th Judicial (Allegan County) Circuit Court, he obtained an extra 10 days of credit.

Karri A. Russell, an Assistant Muskegon Public Defender, won a not guilty result October 3, 2017, in a delinquency CSC case. Ronald J. Winter, an Assistant Muskegon Public Defender, won – also on October 3, 2017 – a directed verdict of acquittal in a disorderly conduct case.

Adil Haradhvala, in September 2017, had successes in both circuit and district courts. In the 16th Judicial (Macomb County) Circuit Court, he negotiated a 12-month sentence (with credit for 7 months served), instead of a prison sentence, where the sentencing guidelines started at 30 months. Mr. Haradhvala also obtained dismissal of a felonious assault case in the 37th Judicial District Court (Warren).

Carl D. MacPherson, IV, Chief Public Defender in the Berrien County Public Defender’s Office, and Stephanie E. Farkas, Assistant Public Defender, won not guilty verdicts October 16, 2017, in a case involving charges of open murder, involuntary manslaughter, and felony firearm, and a defense theory of self-defense. The jury rendered a guilty verdict for a charge of CCW only.

Issa G. Haddad won a not guilty verdict from a jury October 16, 2017, in a disorderly person case in the 41A Judicial District Court (Sterling Heights).

by Neil Leithauser
Associate Editor