Oakland County Assault Lawyer

Charged with assault or another violent crime? Christopher Brown is an Oakland County assault lawyer and former police officer who knows how police investigate these cases. He builds your defense around self-defense, witness credibility, and the actual evidence.

Oakland County Assault Lawyer for Violent Crime Charges

Former Police Officer. Proven Trial Lawyer. Relentless Defender.

Few charges carry the stigma and severity of a violent-crime accusation. Words like assault, battery, domestic violence, or homicide strike fear into defendants and families alike. Prosecutors and judges treat these cases differently — and public opinion often presumes guilt before the first piece of evidence is presented.

At Brown & Associates Legal Services, attorney Christopher Brown uses his law-enforcement background to level the playing field. As a former police officer and seasoned trial attorney, he understands exactly how these cases are investigated, charged, and proven — and more importantly, how to dismantle them from the inside out.

Recent Assault and Violent Crime Results

First-Degree Home Invasion Dismissed — Westland

Our client went to collect a debt and was invited into the home. Once inside, his phone went missing. When he confronted the man who owed him money, a fight broke out.

Police arrested our client and charged him with first-degree home invasion, a 20-year felony. While our client sat in jail, the complainant used our client’s phone to take money from him.

We investigated, gathered the transaction records, and showed the prosecutor that the transactions happened while our client was in custody. The prosecutor dismissed the case in the 18th District Court in Westland.

Why this matters: An invitation inside, and what really happened next, can undo a home invasion charge. Digging into the complainant’s own conduct can reveal who is telling the truth.

Felonious Assault Dismissed at the Preliminary Exam — Madison Heights

In a stabbing case, the prosecution tried to prove its case with the complainant’s statements at the hospital. We argued that this violated our client’s constitutional right to confront his accuser, and the court dismissed the felony before it ever reached Circuit Court.

Assault With Intent to Do Great Bodily Harm Dismissed — Oak Park

Our client faced a 10-year felony assault charge and a resisting arrest charge. We presented his full circumstances, including records and an evaluation, and the prosecutor agreed the case should be dismissed.

See more of our case results

Understanding Michigan’s Approach to Violent Crimes

Michigan law classifies “violent crimes” as offenses involving force, threat, or injury to another person. While many prosecutors advocate rehabilitation for non-violent offenders, they often pursue the harshest possible penalties for violent offenses — even when the evidence is questionable or the act was defensive.

Attorney Brown’s insider knowledge of police procedure allows him to identify mistakes others overlook — improper evidence collection, flawed witness statements, or exaggerated allegations. His approach focuses on exposing those weaknesses early, before they define the case.

Michigan Assault Penalties at a Glance

Michigan has a range of assault charges. The charge depends on whether there was a weapon, an injury, and what the person intended:

These are maximum penalties, not typical sentences. A serious injury alone does not prove intent to do great bodily harm or to murder. Those charges require proof of what the person actually intended.

Assault by strangulation is a separate 10-year felony, often charged in domestic cases.

Self-Defense and Michigan’s “Stand Your Ground” Law

Under Michigan law, you have the right to protect yourself when faced with an imminent threat. You may use reasonable force — including deadly force in some cases — if you honestly and reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent death, great bodily harm, or sexual assault. An Oakland County assault lawyer can show the court why your actions were lawful self-defense.

Michigan’s Stand Your Ground law removes the old “duty to retreat.” That means you do not have to run away before defending yourself. However, the level of force must be proportionate to the threat.

Because every situation is unique, a successful self-defense claim requires a deep factual analysis — something Attorney Brown excels at after years of investigating use-of-force incidents from both sides of the badge.

Michigan’s Self-Defense Act

Michigan’s Self-Defense Act protects people who defend themselves. If you are not committing a crime and are somewhere you have a legal right to be, you may use non-deadly force when you honestly and reasonably believe it is needed to stop someone’s imminent unlawful force.

You may use deadly force if you honestly and reasonably believe it is needed to prevent imminent death, great bodily harm, or sexual assault. In those situations, you have no duty to retreat. In certain situations involving an unlawful entry into a home or vehicle, the law also presumes your fear was reasonable.

Self-defense is not automatic. Who started or escalated the confrontation, whether the threat was imminent, and how much force was used all matter. We win many self-defense cases before trial with a clear written presentation to the prosecutor, as in our Farmington Hills case.

What If the Victim Doesn’t Want to Press Charges?

In Michigan, it’s the prosecutor, not the victim, who decides whether to file or continue criminal charges. Even if the alleged victim wants the case dismissed, prosecutors often pursue it anyway — particularly in domestic-violence situations.

However, an uncooperative or inconsistent witness can make a case difficult to prove. Attorney Brown understands how prosecutors handle reluctant witnesses and uses that knowledge to protect his clients’ rights and secure dismissals whenever possible.

Charges an Oakland County Assault Lawyer Can Defend

Assault and Battery

Assault involves either an attempted battery or an act that causes someone to reasonably fear immediate harm.
Battery is any forceful, violent, or offensive touching.

In practice, prosecutors often charge both together as “assault and battery.” Even minor incidents can result in serious consequences if handled incorrectly. Attorney Brown thoroughly reviews police reports, body-cam footage, and witness statements to expose inconsistencies and protect your record.

Common assault-related offenses include:

• Simple Assault or Domestic Assault
• Aggravated Assault (intent to cause serious injury)
• Felonious Assault (assault with a dangerous weapon)
• Assault with Intent to Do Great Bodily Harm
• Assault with Intent to Murder or Rob

Domestic Violence

Domestic-violence charges often arise from emotional or heated situations. Under Michigan law, you may be charged if the accuser is a spouse, former spouse, dating partner, co-parent, or household member.

Even if the accuser recants, prosecutors can move forward. Fortunately, Michigan law allows for first-offense deferral programs that may prevent a conviction and keep your record clean. Attorney Brown frequently helps clients qualify for these programs and avoid the lifelong stigma of a domestic-violence record.

Stalking and Harassment

Michigan’s stalking statute is broad and often misapplied. “Unconsented contact” that causes fear or intimidation can qualify as stalking, and the charge can be upgraded to aggravated stalking if it violates a court order or includes a threat.

Attorney Brown understands how easily text messages, social-media activity, or misunderstandings can escalate into criminal charges. His law-enforcement insight is invaluable in distinguishing genuine threats from lawful communication. See how we got a charge dismissed on the day of trial in Farmington Hills.

Stalking is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year and a $1,000 fine. It becomes aggravated stalking, a felony punishable by up to five years and a $10,000 fine, if it involves violating a court order or bond condition, a credible threat, or a prior stalking conviction.

Each alleged contact matters. We look at whether it was consented to, served a legitimate purpose, or was protected speech.

Kidnapping

Kidnapping under MCL 750.349 is one of Michigan’s most serious offenses, carrying up to life in prison. The law covers a wide range of conduct — not just abduction for ransom. Merely “restraining” another person while committing certain acts can trigger a kidnapping charge.

Attorney Brown’s investigative background helps reveal when prosecutors overreach or exaggerate restraint claims, especially in cases overlapping with alleged assault or sexual-offense charges.

Felony Firearm

Michigan imposes a mandatory two-year consecutive prison term for possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony. This means that any sentence for the underlying offense begins after the firearm sentence ends.

Because of this severe penalty, challenging the firearm allegation itself can be one of the most effective defense strategies. Attorney Brown’s understanding of firearm evidence and police-procedure violations is critical in these cases.

Gang-Related Offenses

Committing a felony while associated with a gang carries an additional felony charge with potential 20-year penalties — often stacked consecutively to other sentences. Brown uses his police experience to analyze gang-allegation evidence and dismantle weak or speculative claims.

Arson

Arson involves the intentional burning of property, but determining intent is complex. Michigan law divides arson into several degrees based on damage, injury, and intent. Modern fire-investigation science has evolved significantly, and Brown works with expert investigators to prove when a fire was accidental rather than criminal.

Homicide, Murder, and Manslaughter Defense in Oakland County

Homicide is the most serious charge under Michigan law, ranging from first-degree premeditated murder (mandatory life) to manslaughter and negligent homicide. These cases demand immediate, strategic defense.

As a former police officer, Christopher Brown has investigated and defended homicide cases from both sides — giving him an unparalleled understanding of crime-scene forensics, interrogation practices, and investigative bias.

First-degree murder, which includes premeditated murder and certain murders during another felony, carries mandatory life without parole. Manslaughter, an unlawful killing without malice, carries up to 15 years.

The difference often turns on intent, provocation, and causation, and every one of those can be challenged.

Armed Robbery and Carjacking

Armed robbery and carjacking are among the most serious charges in Michigan. Both carry up to life in prison.

Armed robbery requires a robbery committed while possessing a weapon, an object made to look like one, or a claim to have one. Carjacking means using force, violence, or threats, or putting someone in fear, while taking a vehicle.

The key questions are often whether a theft actually occurred, what force or threat was used, and whether the person really had or claimed a weapon.

Resisting and Obstructing Police

Prosecutors often add a resisting or obstructing charge to another charge. “Obstructing” includes not only physical resistance but also knowingly failing to follow a lawful command.

The basic offense carries up to two years. If the officer is injured, the maximum rises to 4 years. It rises to 15 years for serious impairment and 20 years if death results. The officer’s actions must have been lawful, so an unlawful arrest can be a defense.

Habitual Offender Enhancements

If you have prior felony convictions, the prosecutor may file a habitual offender notice. That can raise the maximum sentence for a new felony.

For a second felony offender, the maximum can generally increase to one and a half times the normal maximum. Third and fourth offender enhancements go higher.

However, the enhancement is not automatic. The prosecution must give proper notice and prove the prior convictions, and both can be challenged.

How Assault Cases Are Investigated, and Why First Reports Get It Wrong

As a former Detroit police officer (1996–2003), Christopher Brown knows how assault reports are written. People often make a first report during a fast-moving, stressful event. The person reporting may be upset, injured, or may have seen only part of what happened.

Officers often record one account before they have video, medical records, or the other side of the story. As our Westland case shows, the full picture can look very different.

Evidence We Move Quickly to Preserve

• 911 calls, dispatch records, and police body camera footage
• Surveillance video from nearby homes and businesses, before it is recorded over
• Photos of injuries and the scene
• Medical records and the timing of treatment
• Texts, call logs, social media, and location data
• Names of witnesses who saw the parties before, during, or after the incident

Common Mistakes After an Assault Accusation

• Giving a statement to “clear things up” before talking to a lawyer
• Contacting the complainant, especially if a no-contact order or bond condition is in place
• Posting about the incident on social media, or asking others to
• Letting video or electronic evidence be lost or deleted

An Oakland County assault lawyer can preserve evidence and handle communications for you from the start.

Why Choose Brown & Associates?

• Former Police Officer Insight – Brown knows how investigators think, and he uses that to your advantage.
• Trial-Tested Experience – Decades of courtroom defense in Metro Detroit and across Michigan.
• Aggressive, Tactical Defense – Every move designed to expose weaknesses and protect your freedom.
• Personalized Strategy – Direct attorney access and hands-on case management.

Contact a Michigan Violent-Crimes Defense Attorney Today

If you or a loved one has been charged with assault, domestic violence, or any violent crime, your defense starts now. Early intervention can change the outcome of your case.

Call Brown & Associates Legal Services at (248) 468-1468 or contact us online for a confidential consultation with Attorney Christopher Brown — a former police officer who knows how to fight for your rights and your future.

Frequently Asked Questions About Assault Charges in Michigan

What is the difference between assault and felonious assault?

Assault and battery is a misdemeanor. Felonious assault involves a dangerous weapon, such as a gun, knife, or vehicle, and is a felony punishable by up to four years, even if no one was hurt.

Can I be charged with assault if no one was injured?

Yes. An assault can be an attempted battery or an act that makes someone reasonably fear an immediate battery. Injury affects which charge applies, not whether a charge is possible.

Do I have to retreat before defending myself in Michigan?

Not if you are not committing a crime and are somewhere you have a legal right to be. Under Michigan’s Self-Defense Act, you may use reasonable force without retreating, but the force must match the threat.

Can the alleged victim drop assault charges?

No. Only the prosecutor can dismiss a case. However, the complainant’s account, and how well it holds up, often decides the outcome.

Why was I also charged with resisting arrest?

Prosecutors often add resisting or obstructing when police say someone pulled away, refused commands, or struggled. It is a separate felony, and it depends on whether the officer’s actions were lawful.

Defend Your Future With an Oakland County Assault Lawyer

Felonious assault under MCL 750.82 carries up to four years in prison, even when no one is hurt. More serious charges, such as assault with intent to do great bodily harm (MCL 750.84), carry up to ten years. An Oakland County assault lawyer can raise self-defense, challenge identification, and expose inconsistent statements. Assault cases often overlap with domestic violence and weapons charges. We defend clients across Oakland County, including in Troy, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak, and Southfield. See how we got a felonious assault charge dismissed in West Bloomfield. We also got a felonious assault charge dismissed at the preliminary exam in Madison Heights. See how we got felony assault and resisting arrest charges dismissed in Oak Park. Call (248) 468-1468 for a free consultation.