Shelby Township, Macomb, Utica and the 41-A District Court

The 41A District Court, Shelby Township Division, covers a massive geographical area which includes:

• Shelby Township, 35.2 square miles, est. population: 80,000
• Macomb Township, 36.3 square miles, est. population: 90,000
• City of Utica, 1.74 square miles, est. population: 5,000

This area of northern Macomb County is one the fastest growing residential areas in Metro Detroit. The area has an impressive industrial corridor and is also home to many national and major retailers (Costco, Sam’s Club, Home Depot, Target, Walmart, Kohl’s, Meijer). There are also several restaurants and entertainment establishments (Locker Room Saloon, Shamrock Irish Pub, Jimmy John’s Field) in this area.

Several police agencies are present in this area which include the Shelby Township Police, Utica Police, Macomb County Sheriff Department, and the Michigan State Police. These agencies issue hundreds of traffic tickets, conduct criminal investigations for felony and misdemeanor cases and make over 200 drunk driving arrests each year.

The 41A District Court/Shelby Division is located at 52420 Van Dyke, Shelby Township, Michigan 48316 and is presided over by the Honorable Douglas P. Shepard and a full-time magistrate. Jim Verploeg is the Court’s magistrate.

Address: 52420 Van Dyke, Shelby Township, MI 48316

Phone: 586-739-7325

Email: 41acriminal@shelbytwp.org

The geographical area and population serviced by the 41A District Court in Shelby Township is greater than most other district courts in Macomb County.

The 41A District Court has another division which is located in the City of Sterling Heights:

Address: 40111 Dodge Park, Sterling Heights, MI 48313

Phone: 586-446-2500

Crimes are classified as misdemeanors or felonies.

• Misdemeanors are defined as criminal offenses that can carry not more than one (1) year or less in the county jail.
• Felonies are defined as serious criminal offenses which can carry more than one (1) year - up to life, in prison.
• Traffic offenses may be labeled as misdemeanors (which can carry jail time) or civil infractions which do not involve any jail but carry points and a fine.

Misdemeanor and traffic offenses that occur in Michigan are handled entirely at district court level. Felony cases in Michigan are initiated at the district court level for the early phases of the criminal process (arraignment, probable cause conference and preliminary examination). However, a felony case that is not reduced to a misdemeanor will be sent up to the circuit court in the county where the offense occurred for further proceedings and trial. Felony cases that occur in Macomb County that are not resolved in the district courts will be heard in the Macomb County Circuit Court which is located at 40 North Main, Mt. Clemens, Michigan 48043. If you are charged with any traffic, misdemeanor, or felony offense, you will want to employ an experienced local Macomb County criminal defense lawyer to get your case under control and give you a plan for avoiding a conviction or keeping it in the district court as a misdemeanor.

As we explain in another publication, the arraignment is the first stage of a criminal proceeding. An attorney’s presence at the arraignment can pay for itself tenfold by keeping the amount of bond under control. Following the arraignment, the court will schedule a misdemeanor for a pretrial conference and a felony will be scheduled for a probable cause conference. Handling criminal cases proactively and effectively at a pretrial conference or probable cause conference can lead to favorable results without a trial, without jail, without reporting probation and often result in avoiding a serious conviction.

ABDO LAW provides criminal defense representation to clients facing criminal charges, operating under the influence and traffic matters in the 41A District Court/Shelby Division more than anywhere else. This court manages a larger than average volume misdemeanor and felony criminal cases consisting of drug crimes, sex crimes, assault crimes and larceny crimes. We do it all with amazing outcomes.

Contact our firm if you are faced with any criminal case in the 41A District Court (Shelby Township or Sterling Heights), including the following criminal, traffic or drunk driving offenses:

• Drug Crimes
• Retail Fraud
• Domestic Violence
• Drunk Driving: OWI/DUI, OWI High BAC .17%
• Drunk Driving Felony (Third Lifetime Offense)
• Disorderly Conduct
• Fleeing & Eluding
• Resisting & Obstructing
• Embezzlement
• Uttering & Publishing
• Larceny Crimes
• Traffic Tickets
• DWLS
• Hit and Run Accident (fail to stop at accident scene)
• Malicious Destruction of Property

Do not tempt fate by operating a vehicle after you have consumed alcohol or ingested drugs or marijuana which may have impaired your ability to operate a vehicle. There are over 2,000 arrests in Macomb County each year for driving under the influence or impaired with 200 or more of them occurring in Shelby Township, Macomb Township, and the City of Utica according to the Michigan State Police Annual Drunk Driving annual statistics. Let us explain how we can help you get your DUI case under control, get it reduced or dismissed, avoid jail, and keep your license!

Justice is dispensed fairly in the 41A District Courts located in Shelby Township and Sterling heights. Most of the criminal matters that we handle in the 41A District Courts are concluded with a positive outcome either by entering into a favorable plea agreement, getting a felony dropped, or application of specific Michigan Statutes such as:

• MCL 333.7411: We have used this provision of law to get thousands of drug crimes dismissed and sealed for first time offenses involving possession or use of any controlled substance including: analogues, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, methamphetamine and sealed record and dismissal for first time drug crime.
• HYTA for Youthful Offenders: HYTA applies to youthful offenders (age 18 but under age 26) for almost all crimes. Upon completion of a HYTA disposition, the offense is dismissed and sealed. A HYTA dismissal means that the offender is not required to disclose a conviction on an application in the future.
• Delayed Sentence/Deferral: This provision is subject to agreement with the prosecutor and acceptance by the judge to get a crime dismissed, or other leniency, after period of probation. We have utilized this provision extensively to get retail fraud, disorderly conduct and other offenses dismissed!
• Avoid Deportation: Did you know that you can face deportation if you are convicted of a felony, retail fraud or domestic violence? We are here to guide you in every Macomb County Courtroom if you are charged with a crime that could result in deportation.

The court personnel, prosecutor and police will not protect your rights and will not give you legal advice. There is no substitute to having an experienced Macomb County criminal defense attorney by your side that has handled 1,000’s of cases in Macomb County since 1980. Hiring experienced local criminal defense attorneys that know the system is the best decision that you will ever make.

• ABDO LAW has experience handling cases for those that are not US Citizens in the 41A District Courts located in both Shelby Township and Sterling Heights. We will set goals to avoid deportation, arrange an interpreter and immigration attorney whenever necessary.
• ABDO LAW will contact the court upon being retained within the 10-day time frame.
• Everyone, including nonresidents and Canadians, can retain our services remotely and we can request a ZOOM hearing if it is inconvenient to personally appear for a court date.
• The Judge may decline to hear a case for individuals that are not dressed appropriately.
• Criminal cases are usually scheduled for either 8:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. Please try to be at least 15 minutes early for your live or remote court proceeding.
• Be prepared to pay your fines and costs on the date of your sentence. We can request an extension for payment of fines and costs if you are having financial hardship.

EMAIL or CALL Abdo Law for a FREE CONSULTATION. Phone messages after business hours are forwarded to our attorneys. We offer same day, evening, weekend appointments and the ability to retain us over the internet. Payment plans and all credit cards accepted.

CALL: Metro Detroit: 586-412-5555 or Toll Free: 844-Got-Abdo