Benton Harbor Criminal Lawyers

I have a passion for defending the rights of the accused. It disgusts me how often a person is convicted in the public eye without any kind of evidence being introduced against him or her at all. Social media has allowed people to form opinions based on sound bites and not real evidence. I focus mainly on criminal defense and have been practicing since 2006. My office is in Wyoming, MI a suburb of Grand Rapids but I take cases within about an hour of here.

When it comes to winning driver’s license restoration cases, Ms. Mast knows that attention to detail and organization is critical. Success depends, in part, on having all the paperwork correctly filled out and submitted timely. Ms. Mast communicates with her clients every step to ensure they understand what is needed and how to prepare documents for the best chance of success. She will fight tirelessly and aggressively to ensure that her clients’ driver’s license privileges are restored. Ms. Mast prides herself on her history of winning driver’s license restoration cases and satisfactory outcomes in criminal cases for her clients. Born and...

Joshua Blanchard is a trial lawyer who holds a BBA in Accounting from Northwood University and a Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. He operated a solo law practice representing clients in criminal trial matters throughout the state of Michigan. He has tried a number of jury trials to verdict and has obtained “not guilty” verdicts for his clients in both bench and jury trials. Mr. Blanchard is admitted to practice in Michigan state courts as well as in Federal Court for the Eastern and Western districts of Michigan. Mr. Blanchard represents people in need...

Brian E. Gordon was born in Detroit but raised in the East Lansing area where he attended and graduated from Okemos High School, Michigan State University and Michigan State University College of Law (formerly known as the Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University).

Brian has worked and resided in Grand Rapids for the past 20 years. Brian is an attorney/owner of Gordon & Hess, PLC with a practice primarily focused upon Divorce, Family Law, Criminal Defense, Bankruptcy and Mediation.

Brian is an experienced 20 year veteran of handling Paternity, Divorce, Custody, Parenting Time and Child Support matters for men facing...

I was born and raised in the City of Detroit and am committed to serving those individuals accused of committing criminal offenses throughout the State of Michigan.

Harold Leo Emelander was raised in Newaygo, Michigan. After graduating from Newaygo High School, he attended Grand Valley State University where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. He then went on to receive his Juris Doctorate from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2006. To further his education he then moved to Florida where he attended The University of Florida College of Law and received his LLM in Taxation in 2007. Mr. Emelander began his legal career in Miami, Florida at an accounting firm. He utilized his degree in taxation law by advising clients on individual,...

I live in the world of ideas and strategic planning. I value intelligence, knowledge, and competence, I have high standards in these regards, which I continuously strive to fulfill. I can objectively see the reality of a situation, and I’m adaptable enough to change things which aren’t working well. I am a strategist – always scanning available ideas and concepts and weighing them against my current strategy, to plan for every credible contingency. I am ready to work for you.

I pride myself in communicating well with clients and always keeping their familes' best interests in mind.

Sara MacGregor joined Grabel & Associates in 2015 with a passion for criminal defense. She was born in Arizona but raised in Michigan's Upper Peninsula where she has lived ever since. Sara is invaluable to Grabel & Associates for her relationships and experience with the courts in the U.P. She attended Manistique High School and graduated summa cum laude from Northern Michigan University with a degree in Pre-Law and a minor in Communications and Chemistry. Sara is a graduate of Thomas M. Cooley Law School and passed the bar in 2014.

Sara MacGregor is ready to defend those charged with criminal...

Attorney Steven R. Simkins has been licensed by the State Bar of Michigan since 2003, and he is a member of the Criminal Law, Family Law, and General Practice sections. Mr. Simkins is admitted to practice in all Michigan state courts as well as the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and the United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. He also serves as a court-appointed attorney in the Kent County Circuit Court for Juvenile Delinquency cases and family neglect cases. Mr. Simkins provides aggressive, personalized representation in the following areas: Criminal...

Licensed in 2014, Ravi Gurumurthy has been an associate at Grabel & Associates for several years. He has experience in the aggressive defense of those charged with criminal sexual conduct, violent crimes, theft and drug charges and juvenile offenses.

Matt Borgula is a seasoned trial attorney who has defended and prosecuted hundreds of criminal and civil cases. Prior to joining SBBL Law, he was one of the lead federal prosecutors for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan. As the Deputy Criminal Chief and head of the financial crimes unit and drug unit, Mr. Borgula handled every type of federal charge from investigation, to Grand Jury indictment through trial. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, he worked in Chicago for the law firm of Jenner & Block, where he represented clients in matters relating to...

Having a skilled legal advocate in your corner is crucial when facing criminal charges. That is why Jason L. Jansma is here to help. As a former prosecutor, he has gained invaluable insight and experience on how the other side of the courtroom thinks. Attorney Jansma has been placed among the top criminal lawyers in Michigan, making him a strong ally for any individual to have. He handles all types of criminal matters and provides counsel and assistance for family law issues as well. No matter your situation, be sure to call on him when you need reliable, proven, and...

Clay Wittman served 26 years in the Active Duty US Air Force, retiring as a Colonel in 2009. He is now "retired" in Grand Rapids. He has "been around the block" a few times and knows what it means to serve others. As a Lawyer, Clay Wittman takes a very limited number of clients, so that he can serve those few clients with the care and attention they deserve. Clay is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, and the Western Michigan Law School. He graduated Law School Magna Cum Laude and...

Tessa K. Muir is an accomplished trial attorney as a former federal prosecutor and former Army JAG officer. As an Assistant US Attorney in the Western District of Michigan, Tessa served as the lead prosecutor in hundreds of federal criminal cases and Sixth Circuit appeals. She worked closely with and trained federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies on search warrants, computer investigations, and human trafficking — including the Michigan State Police, FBI, DEA, ATF, Homeland Security, police departments, and sheriffs’ offices throughout Michigan. Now, she uses that knowledge to understand weaknesses in an investigation and areas where law enforcement...

Brandon Gardner founded Brandon Gardner & Associates, PLC on the principle that every client deserves zealous, high-quality legal representation, especially those facing the most serious crimes and complex family disputes. Brandon has over twenty years' experience in multiple aspects of the court system from small claims dispute resolution to appeals to the Michigan Supreme Court and utilizes this breadth of knowledge to develop custom solutions to every case at the firm, no matter the complexity. Mr. Gardner’s practice areas include serious felonies and federal crimes, complex domestic litigation, and personal injury litigation. Additionally, he is an approved domestic relations mediator on...

Steven A. Freeman has defended Clients ranging in age from 15 to 77 who were accused of various SEX CRIMES such as CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT. His clients have included Corporate Executives, School Teachers, White Collar Professionals, Politicians, Scout Leaders, Retirees, Business Owners and Blue Collar Workers. Criminal Sexual Conduct cases typically involve a relationship between the Client and the Accuser, such as Doctor/Patient, Teacher/Student, Scout Leader/Scout, Step Father/Step Child, Boyfriend/Girlfriend's Child, Parent/Child's Friend, Neighbor/Neighbor, Employer/Employee and Professional/Intern. Anyone can be accused of a Criminal Sexual Conduct Offense regardless of age, education, wealth or social...

How does someone choose the "right attorney"? I believe that the client must feel comfortable with the attorney, along with having confidence in the attorney's abilities in dealing with the issues at hand.

I specialize in criminal and bankruptcy law. I also handle divorce, license restoration, and debt settlement. I offer personal service and have been very successful in keeping my clients out of jail. In practicing bankruptcy law, in addition to guiding my client through the bankruptcy process, I offer advice to my clients on how to avoid various debt traps and how to live within a budget ,...

Tim Slais graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science. In 1995, he became a Michigan State Police Trooper, and he was assigned to the South Haven Post where he investigated both traffic and criminal complaints. After being shot in the line of duty, Tim retired from the State Police in 2005, and he went on to study law at Thomas M. Cooley Law School. In 2009, Tim graduated Magna Cum Laude in the top 3% of his class with a concentration in Litigation. Following law school, Tim was an Assistant Prosecuting...

Balgooyen Law Offices has been a general practice firm in Muskegon County for over 40 years, having represented three municipal governments, several area businesses, and multiple generations of Muskegon families. Fredric F. Balgooyen, sole practitioner, has experience as both a prosecuting and public defense attorney, is a member of the State Bar of Michigan's Criminal Law Section, Probate and Estate Planning Section and Master Lawyer Section. Practice areas include estate planning, Wills & Trusts, Probate and decedent estates, real estate, business law, business planning, commercial and civil litigation, Landlord-Tenant, family law, domestic issues, divorce, child support...

A former Federal prosecutor who now represents clients in state and Federal criminal cases, Heath knows exactly how criminal cases are built by law enforcement officers and prosecutors. He now uses that knowledge and expertise on behalf of clients who are under investigation or already have been charged with crimes. A partner at the law firm of Springstead Bartish & Borgula Law in Grand Rapids, Heath is part of a team of former Federal agents and prosecutors who have built a criminal defense firm, and together fight to protect their clients' rights in the criminal justice system. ...

Thomas A. Ginster is a partner in Peterson Ginster PLC, Greenville, Michigan. From 2003 to 2007, he served as a Special Assistant Attorney General. From 1994 to 2002, he was a policy advisor to former Governor John Engler and served as acting Director of the Michigan Office of Drug Control Policy. He previously served as an assistant prosecuting attorney for Saginaw and Montcalm Counties. He earned his law degree from Cooley and holds a degree in Public Administration from Michigan State.