Romeo Criminal Defense Lawyer

Criminal cases from Romeo, Washington Township, and the rest of northern Macomb County are heard at the 42-1 District Court on 33 Mile Road. Attorney Christopher Brown is a Romeo criminal defense lawyer and former Detroit police officer who defends clients in this court and throughout Macomb County, from traffic and misdemeanor charges to serious felonies.

Recent Results in the 42-1 District Court

Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Two Counts of CSC Second Degree Dismissed Before the Preliminary Exam — Romeo

Police searched our client’s home under a search warrant. He made no statements. We were retained before any charge was filed, and we immediately sent the officer in charge a letter demanding that all evidence be preserved, including the phone messages of the child’s mother. A year later, our client was charged with two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, each a 15-year felony. We subpoenaed the mother’s phone, which held audio recordings of her coaching the child. We retained a highly qualified expert to review the CARE House forensic interview and the mother’s recordings for suggestibility and memory taint. The expert, who had reviewed more than 1,000 child forensic interviews, concluded this interview was among the three worst he had ever reviewed. Our client also passed a polygraph examination. Faced with the expert’s findings, the prosecutor dismissed both counts before the preliminary examination.

42-1 District Court — Romeo, Macomb County

See more of our Macomb County and other case results.

The 42-1 District Court in Romeo

The 42-1 District Court is a single-judge court that serves the northern townships and villages of Macomb County. Most of its cases come from Washington Township, Romeo, Armada, Richmond, Ray Township, and Bruce Township, so the same court handles everything from a speeding ticket on a rural road to a felony charge.

42-1 District Court

Address: 14713 33 Mile Rd., Romeo, MI 48065
Phone: (586) 752-9679 (option 3 for the criminal division)
Hours: 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
Judge: Hon. Jennifer A. Andary
Magistrates: Jeffrey R. Davis and Darra Slanec
Serves: Romeo, Washington Township, Armada (village and township), Richmond and Richmond Township, Memphis (south of Bordman Road), Ray Township, and Bruce Township
Case lookup: Search your case on MiCOURT, Michigan’s statewide case search.

Court details can change, so check the court’s website or call before your court date.

Judge Jennifer A. Andary

Judge Andary has worked on both sides of a criminal case. She joined the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office in 2003 and later led its Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Unit. After leaving the prosecutor’s office in 2008, she spent several years as a criminal defense attorney in private practice. She was appointed magistrate of the 42-1 District Court in 2017 and became its judge on January 1, 2020.

In Attorney Brown’s experience, that background makes a difference. A judge who has prosecuted cases and defended them understands what each side faces, from the strength of the evidence to the real consequences of a conviction. Attorney Brown has found Judge Andary to be fair, patient, and down to earth, and well-prepared arguments from both sides get a full hearing in her courtroom.

Arraignment at the 42-1 District Court

Arraignment is the first court date in every criminal case. At arraignment, a plea is entered (guilty, not guilty, or standing mute), and bond is set. The court’s purpose in setting bond is to make sure you come back for every court date, and the judge or magistrate can add conditions, such as no contact with a complaining witness or alcohol testing.

The 42-1 District Court makes sure every defendant is represented by an attorney at arraignment. Even so, hiring your own Romeo criminal defense lawyer before that date has real advantages. Your lawyer can prepare a bond argument in advance, gather proof of your job, family, and ties to the community, and stay with your case from the first hearing to the last. In addition, if the court appoints counsel, repayment to the county may be required as part of a sentence or probation.

Police Agencies in Northern Macomb County

Cases in the 42-1 District Court come from several agencies, including the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office, local police departments, and the Michigan State Police, which patrol M-53. Each agency writes its reports and handles its video in its own way.

Attorney Brown served as a Detroit police officer, so he knows how officers are trained to justify a stop, a search, and an arrest. Police need reasonable suspicion to stop you and probable cause to arrest you, and a search generally requires a warrant, valid consent, or a recognized exception. When a report and the video don’t match, or a stop wasn’t lawful, the evidence can be challenged. If a detective has contacted you before any charge, learn what to do before you talk.

What Happens After an Arrest in Romeo

Misdemeanor cases: After arraignment, the next date is usually a pretrial conference, where many cases are resolved. Cases that don’t settle move to motions or trial in the 42-1 District Court.

Felony cases: A felony starts with arraignment, a probable cause conference, and a preliminary examination, which must ordinarily be held within 21 days unless the deadline is waived. Our Romeo CSC case was dismissed before the preliminary exam. If a case is bound over, it moves to the 16th Circuit Court in Mount Clemens.

Sobriety and Drug Court

The 42-1 District Court posts an application for its sobriety and drug court on its website. For eligible clients, a treatment court offers supervision, testing, and support in place of a standard sentence. Admission depends on the charge, your history, and screening, so the option should be raised early.

A Romeo Criminal Defense Lawyer With Macomb County Experience

Attorney Brown appears in Macomb County courts regularly and has appeared before every criminal court judge in the county. He has found Macomb’s judges fair and its prosecutors focused on a just result. Therefore, careful preparation and a clear picture of a client’s life often lead to a much better outcome than the original charge suggested. Also, when the defense asks the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office for a resolution outside its standard policies, the request goes through a formal written deviation process. Learn how deviation requests work in Macomb County.

Charges We Defend in Romeo and Washington Township

• Sex crimes, including criminal sexual conduct
• Drunk driving and OWI, including felony third-offense OWI
• Domestic violence and assault
• Drug possession and possession with intent to deliver
• Retail fraud and other theft charges
• Weapons and firearm charges
• Driving while license suspended and other driving offenses
• Probation violations

Also Serving Washington Township and Nearby Communities

We defend clients from Washington Township, Armada, Richmond, Ray Township, and Bruce Township in the 42-1 District Court. We also represent clients in Shelby Township, Sterling Heights, Clinton Township, and the rest of Macomb County.

Talk to a Romeo Criminal Defense Lawyer

• Former Detroit police officer who knows how police build a case, and where it falls apart
• Licensed in Michigan since 2008, with experience before every criminal court judge in Macomb County
• Free consultations, available 24/7, in person at our Troy office or virtually
• Credit cards accepted and payment plans available

Call (248) 468-1468 or contact us online before your arraignment if you can.