Criminal Defense Attorneys in Pontiac, MI

Pontiac criminal cases, from drug and weapons charges to assault and drunk driving, are prosecuted in Oakland County’s courts just blocks away. A Michigan-licensed criminal defense attorney serving Pontiac will review your case for free.

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How we match your Pontiac criminal defense case

When you submit a Pontiac criminal defense matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

Case type

A criminal defense matter needs someone who handles criminal defense work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

Size and complexity

Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

Jurisdiction and licensing

Your matter is decided under Michigan law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Michigan who regularly appears where your case would be heard.

Capacity and fit

Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

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Criminal Defense cases in Pontiac

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Pontiac is the Oakland County seat, so the county's prosecutor, jail, and courthouse are all here, and traffic stops along Woodward, Telegraph, and the I-75 corridor feed a steady stream of OWI, drug, and weapons cases. Misdemeanors and initial felony proceedings begin in the district court serving Pontiac, and felony cases are then tried in the Oakland County Circuit Court; some drug and firearm matters are instead charged federally. What you say at the stop and at arraignment shapes everything after. DearLegal matches you with a Michigan-licensed attorney who handles criminal defense cases in Pontiac, with a free review.

Pontiac cases start in the district court serving the city, with felonies moving to the Oakland County Circuit Court after preliminary proceedings.
The Oakland County prosecutor's office and county jail are located in Pontiac, so most case activity happens locally.
Certain drug, firearm, and fraud cases are charged in federal court in the Eastern District of Michigan instead of state court.

Michigan criminal defense rules at a glance

Pontiac cases run under Michigan law. The full walkthrough — timeline, when to call, case types, and what a recovery can include — is on the Michigan page.

Read the full Michigan criminal defense guide →

Felony Statute of Limitations: No limit
No limit for murder, conspiracy to commit murder, terrorism; 10 years for most non-violent felonies; 6 years for assault felonies (M.C.L. § 767.24)
Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations: 6 years
6 years for most misdemeanors (M.C.L. § 767.24)
Sentencing Structure: 23 year
Indeterminate sentencing under M.C.L. § 769.8; Sentencing Guidelines advisory after People v. Lockridge (2015); Habitual Offender enhancement (M.C.L. § 769.10-12); HYTA (§ 762.11) for 17-23 year olds
Expungement / Record Sealing: 7 years
Clean Slate Acts (2020/2021 PA, M.C.L. § 780.621-624) — automatic expungement of many misdemeanors after 7 years and certain felonies after 10 years (eff. April 2023); broad petition-based expungement
Bail / Pretrial Release: Bail
Bail under M.C.R. 6.106; constitutional right to bail with exceptions for capital and certain violent offenses (Mich. Const. Art. I, § 15); pretrial risk assessment encouraged
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

Exhibit D

How much do Pontiac criminal defense attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

Michigan · Criminal Defense

Fee modelHourly / Flat Fee

Feequoted per petition or matter

Filing costsitemized upfront

Case reviewFree

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

Criminal Defense matters in Michigan are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.

Criminal defense attorneys in Michigan work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under M.R.P.C. 1.5(d) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Misdemeanors and most felonies are flat-fee; complex cases use hourly billing. The Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) and county public defenders represent indigent defendants — recent state-level reforms have improved indigent defense statewide.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

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Exhibit F

Pontiac criminal defense questions, answered

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Misdemeanors and the first stages of a felony, including arraignment and preliminary examination, are handled in the district court serving Pontiac. Felonies then move to the Oakland County Circuit Court for trial. A Michigan attorney will confirm the court and appearance dates on your paperwork.

You can decline to answer questions and ask for a lawyer, and doing so is not evidence of guilt. Statements made during a stop or interview are frequently the strongest evidence the prosecution has. Get a Michigan attorney involved before giving any account of what happened.

Yes, outcomes range from dismissal and diversion or deferral programs to reduced charges, depending on the offense, your record, and the strength of the evidence. Suppression issues from the stop or search can also change the picture. An attorney who regularly appears in Oakland County can assess which options are realistic.

No. Politely decline and ask for an attorney. Michigan State Police, Detroit PD, county sheriffs, and city police use trained interrogation. Anything you say is admissible. Invoke your Fifth Amendment right to silence and Mich. Const. Art. I, § 17 right against self-incrimination.

Yes. Michigan misdemeanors carry up to 93 days, 1 year, or 2 years depending on the offense, plus fines under M.C.L. § 769.5. HYTA (M.C.L. § 762.11) can result in no conviction being entered for eligible defendants 17-23. Delayed Sentence under M.C.L. § 771.1 is similar for non-HYTA defendants. DV and OWI convictions trigger major collateral consequences.