Charged with a misdemeanor in Macomb or Oakland County?
Southeast Michigan Misdemeanor Defense
Maybe someone told you a misdemeanor is no big deal. Here is the truth. It can follow you for years.
A conviction does not disappear when the case is over. It shows up on background checks. It can cost you a job you wanted, an apartment you applied for, a school you were trying to get into. The charge feels small today. The record it leaves is not.
Here is the good news. A charge is not a conviction. Many misdemeanors can be reduced, kept off your record, or handled through a program that leaves you with a clean slate. But that depends on what happens early, before you walk in and plead to something just to make it go away.
Scott has handled thousands of cases like yours. He will look at what happened, tell you honestly where you stand, and show you how to protect your record. To Scott, you are a person, not a file. The best time to deal with this is now, before the first court date decides it for you.
Call Now — (586) 243-4140A live person answers 24/7. Your first consultation is free. Just call, and Scott takes it from there.
What to do right now
A misdemeanor is easier to deal with the earlier you start. A few simple steps protect you, and none of them are hard.
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Do not just plead guilty to get it over with. This is the most common and most costly mistake. That quick plea becomes the permanent record. Talk to Scott before you agree to anything in court.
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Stop talking about it. Not to friends, not to family, not online. Anything you say can end up in the case. Save the story for Scott.
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Write down everything you remember. What happened, who was there, what was said. The small details are often what gets a charge reduced or dropped.
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Keep every piece of paper. Your ticket or citation, court dates, anything you were handed. Have it in front of you when you call.
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Show up and follow the rules. Make every court date. Follow any conditions exactly. What you do between now and court is something the judge will see.
You do not have to figure out the legal part. That is Scott's job. Yours is to stay calm, keep quiet, and let Scott take it from there.
Understanding the Charge
Misdemeanors in Michigan are criminal offenses punishable by one year or less in county jail. They cover a broad range of charges including retail fraud (shoplifting), simple assault and battery, malicious destruction of property, disorderly conduct, and more.
Many people make the mistake of thinking a misdemeanor is "no big deal." The reality is that a misdemeanor conviction creates a permanent criminal record that shows up on employment background checks, housing applications, college applications, and professional licensing reviews.
Scott has defended thousands of misdemeanor cases throughout his career in courts across Macomb County, Oakland County, Wayne County, St. Clair County, and Lapeer County — including the 37th District Court (Warren), 40th District Court (St. Clair Shores), 41A District Court (Sterling Heights/Shelby Township), 41B District Court (Clinton Township), 42-1 District Court (Romeo) and 42-2 District Court (New Baltimore), 48th District Court (Birmingham/Bloomfield), and 52nd District Court (Troy/Rochester Hills). He understands the local prosecutors and the best strategies for keeping charges off your record.
Free initial consultation — ask questions and learn your options before you commit to anything.
Charges Scott Defends
Assault & Violence
- •Assault and battery
- •Domestic violence — first offense
- •Domestic violence — second offense
- •Aggravated assault
- •Aggravated domestic violence
Theft & Property
- •Retail fraud / shoplifting — under $1,000
- •Larceny — under $1,000
- •Malicious destruction of property — under $1,000
- •Embezzlement — under $1,000
- •Breaking and entering / illegal entry
Driving Related
- •First offense OWI / DUI
- •Driving without a license
- •Driving with a suspended license
- •Reckless driving
- •Drag racing
Public Order
- •Disorderly conduct
- •Indecent exposure
- •Trespassing
- •Disturbing the peace
- •Open intoxication
Obstruction
- •Obstructing a police officer
- •Resisting arrest — misdemeanor level
- •Failure to stop and identify after an accident
High Court Misdemeanors
- •Fourth degree criminal sexual conduct — CSC 4th
- •Joyriding — unauthorized use of a vehicle
- •Keeping or maintaining a drug house
Probation & Court Related
- •Probation violation
- •Failure to appear
Potential Penalties
| Offense | Penalty |
|---|---|
| 93-Day Misdemeanor (e.g., Retail Fraud 3rd) | Up to 93 days in jail, up to $500 fine, restitution |
| 1-Year Misdemeanor (e.g., Assault & Battery) | Up to 1 year in jail, up to $1,000 fine, probation |
| Minor in Possession (MIP) | Fine, community service, substance abuse assessment, possible license suspension |
| Disorderly Conduct | Up to 90 days in jail, up to $500 fine |
Free initial consultation — get clear guidance on what you are up against and what to do next.
Why people rely on Rabaut
A name these courthouses already know.
The Rabaut name has been part of criminal defense in these courthouses for decades. Scott clerked for his father, a longtime, respected Michigan criminal defense attorney, before building his own practice over the last nine years. He has earned real respect in the courtrooms and communities he serves, and you can rely on Rabaut.
He has seen the system from more than one side.
An externship with the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office. Loss-prevention work for a major national retailer. Parolee tracking with the Michigan Department of Corrections. Scott has watched how cases get built, what evidence really means, and what happens to people after a conviction. That perspective shapes how he defends you.
Criminal defense is the only thing he does.
Scott is not a general practitioner who takes a criminal case when one walks in the door. Criminal defense is the whole practice. That is where his time and his attention go.
You sit down with Scott, not a paralegal.
The person who hears your story is the person who handles your case.
Start with a free conversation.
Your first consultation costs nothing. What matters most is that you are finally talking to someone who knows exactly what comes next, what you are facing, and who will walk you through it. Not your friends, not a forum online. Real answers from someone who does this every day.
Flat-fee pricing, with no surprises.
If you hire Scott, you will know your full fee up front. No nickel-and-diming for every motion or court date along the way. You will know what is included before you decide, so there are no surprise invoices while you are already worried about everything else.
24/7 live answer.
Day or night, your call reaches a real person, not a recording. Scott personally follows up on every one.
A real conversation, and an honest assessment.
Some lawyers will say whatever it takes to get you in the door. Scott will not. When you sit down with him, he tells you the truth about your case: what is possible, what is likely, and what it will take to get there. If he is the right person to defend you, he will say so. If he is not, he will tell you that too.
This is your future. You deserve someone who is honest with you from the very first call.
Call Now — (586) 243-4140Frequently Asked Questions
The Right Move Is the One You Make Right Now.
Every day that passes without the right attorney in your corner is a day the other side uses to build their case.
Free initial consultation
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A live person answers every call — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
(586) 243-4140Law Offices of Scott E. Rabaut
38600 Van Dyke Ave., Suite 200
Sterling Heights, MI 48312
Callback within 24 hours — sooner when urgency requires it.