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Ottawa County Sex Crimes Attorney
Nobody needs unwanted legal complications in their lives; they are stressful, costly, and time-consuming, and there is nothing more daunting than legal complications that involve being under investigation for a crime. However, if you find yourself in this situation, don't be someone who makes the mistake of hoping the unpleasantness will go away by avoiding the harsh reality. When your future and your freedom are on the line, the most important step you can take is to regain as much control of the situation as you can as soon as you can by getting competent legal help on your side. Hiring the right attorney can save you time, stress, and financial strain by helping you avoid the pitfalls of poor decisions and getting your case resolved as quickly as possible, free of unnecessary difficulties. The most important step you can take is calling the Ottawa County sex crimes attornyes at Grabel & Associates.
Sex Crimes Activity in Ottawa County
The sex crimes defense firm of Grabel & Associates has earned a reputation throughout Michigan for providing aggressive, capable legal representation to clients accused of a wide variety of crimes, and particularly for criminal sexual offenses. Our attorneys have over 100 years of combined experience working cases in jurisdictions all across the state, including Ottawa County. We have worked in virtually every Michigan jurisdiction, in both state and federal criminal cases, and we understand in-depth how the criminal justice system operates.
Using state-of-the-art investigative techniques and top-notch experts in criminal investigation, forensics, DNA analysis, and other specialties, we are dedicated to providing our clients with the best possible outcome for their cases, whether that involves getting charges reduced or dismissed, or going to trial and winning a "Not Guilty" verdict. We have served hundreds of satisfied clients all across Michigan, and we can help you, too.
Crimes Occurring in Ottawa County are Tried in the 58th District Court or the 20th Circuit Court
There are two Ottawa County trial courts that handle criminal cases: the 58th District Court, which has locations in Holland, Hudsonville, and Grand Haven; and the 20th Circuit Court, located in Grand Haven. As in other Michigan counties, all criminal cases begin in the district court. Misdemeanor cases remain in the district court for all procedures; however, felony cases may be transferred to the circuit court after the district court conducts a preliminary examination.
In Ottawa County, the appropriate 58th District Court sets the bond amount on all criminal cases, and the amount of a bond depends upon the risk that a judge or magistrate believes the accused presents to the victim or to society, as well as the risk that the accused will not appear for future court proceedings.
The first court appearance for the accused is an arraignment. At the arraignment, the bond will be determined, and the accused will be informed of his or her rights and asked if he or she needs an attorney. The accused is also asked to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. If the accused pleads guilty, there is no need for a trial. If the accused enters a plea of not guilty, the court will proceed to schedule a pretrial conference, at which the prosecutor and the attorney for the accused may negotiate, such as agreeing to plead guilty to a reduced charge and a prescribed punishment. This agreement is called a plea bargain. If no agreement is made, then the matter will proceed to trial. If it is a misdemeanor trial, it remains in the district court.
If it is a felony case, the district court conducts a preliminary examination. The purpose of a preliminary examination is to determine if the prosecution has enough evidence for a case to proceed to trial. If the court finds sufficient evidence to proceed to trial, then the matter is transferred to the Ottawa County 20th Circuit Court. The address for the 58th District Court in Holland is:
58th District Court
85 West Eighth Street
Holland, Michigan 49423
The 58th District Court in Hudsonville is located at:
58th District Court
3100 Port Sheldon Road
Hudsonville, Michigan 49426
Both the 58th District Court in Grand Haven and the 20th Circuit Court are located at:
Ottawa County Building
414 Washington Ave.
Grand Haven, Michigan 49417
Ottawa County, Michigan, is on the western edge of Michigan's Lower Peninsula on the shores of Lake Michigan. It is bounded by Muskegon County to the north, Kent County to the east, and Allegan County to the south. The county has a total area of 1,632 square miles counting portions of Lake Michigan, but only 565 square miles are land.
The county seat of Ottawa County is the city of Grand Haven. The total Ottawa County population is 263,801 residents, of which 10,412 live in Grand Haven. Ottawa County is made up of six cities, 17 townships, one village, and eight unincorporated communities.
During the recent economic downturn, the unemployment rate in Ottawa County reached a peak of over 13%, but the local economy has recovered somewhat. While much of Michigan's industrial areas continue to see higher-than-average unemployment rates, the unemployment rate in Ottawa County has dropped below the national average.
The crime rate in Ottawa County is generally very low—lower than the national average, and even much lower than the state average. An individual is generally less likely to be the victim of a property crime in Ottawa County than in the rest of Michigan, but, more critically, an individual is only about half as likely to be the victim of a violent crime in Ottawa County as in Michigan as a whole. According to recent Michigan State Police records, there were a total of 26,314 crime incidents reported in Ottawa County. Of these, only 418 were classified specifically as sex-related crimes, such as the crimes of rape, obscenity,prostitution, statutory rape, sexual assault, and other unspecified sexual offenses. According to these records, 99 arrests were made in connection with these sex-related offenses.
You can Call Grabel & Associates Any Time of Day or Night, Any Day of the Week, for Legal Assistance
If you find yourself under investigation for a sexual offense in Ottawa County, contact Grabel & Associates toll-free right away for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation on your case. At our law firm, we handle sex crimes defense cases exclusively, so we have an in-depth understanding of what you are going through. We know that you need answers to your questions and competent legal assistance right away—not tomorrow or next week, and not accompanied by the worry of how much it is going to cost. That is why we have an attorney standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to make sure you can get the information you need, free of charge, for an initial consultation. When you need help, you can rely on Grabel & Associates.
