The Michigan Supreme Court has ruled against hearing an appeal from a sexual-assault trial where a screen was used to block a witness from seeing the man accused. At issue is whether the placement of the screen deprived the defendant of his constitutional right to confront his accuser. In a…
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear argument next week in a case involving the confrontation clause of the Sixth Amendment. The confrontation clause generally provides the right of an accused to “confront” a witness testifying against him or her at trial by way of cross-examination. In Williams v.…
A bill making it through the Michigan state Senate seeks to expand laws making prohibiting sex between school employees and students. If passed Senate Bill 596 would make consensual sex between school employees – including teachers and administrators – to have sex with students even if the student is older…
Ypsilanti news reports that police have arrested 6 men for allegedly soliciting prostitution as part of a sting conducted in Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Township last week. The arrests were part of Enforcement Against Street Walking in Ypsilanti (E.A.S.Y.), a program aimed at eliminating the root causes of prostitution. Law enforcement,…
In a teen criminal sexual conduct case that has received national attention, the Quincy Board of Education met yesterday to determine whether a 17-year-old Quincy High School senior accused of statutory rape may continue playing on the varsity football teen. The 17-year-old has not been convicted of any sex crime.…
Thanks to much needed legislative changes, the Michigan Sex Offender registry will be adding new information concerning those individuals listed on the registry in an effort to provide a more complete picture of each person – including new information about employment, vehicle information and email addresses. News reports that the…
Grand Rapids news reports that the Michigan Supreme Court will review the trial of a man convicted of a raping a woman at gun-point. In 2002, a Kent County jury convicted Ramon Bryant for an alleged rape and armed robbery he committed at age 16. However, as the result of…
After hearing testimony from Calhoun County prosecutors and representatives from the Michigan Innocence Project, Calhoun County judge Conrad Sindt granted Lorinda Swain a new hearing on charges she sexually assaulted her son nearly ten years ago. If you have been charged with any Michigan sex crime, it is critical to…
Effective July 1, teenagers who have mutually agreed upon sex with a younger teen will no longer be automatically listed on Michigan’s sex crimes registry. However, in certain circumstances your teen may still face placement of his or her name on the list. This includes situations such as where the…
According to the Lansing State Journal, Michigan State Police Trooper Joseph Donovan has been found not guilty of rape by an Ingham County jury. Donovan was standing trial for nine counts of first degree sexual misconduct. The jury found him not guilty on seven counts and deadlocked on the other…