Legal Question in Criminal Law in Michigan

Hello,

A few months ago, I made a very bad decision.

Upset with a former employer, and heavily under the influence of alcohol, I broke in to their office and took a laptop computer.

The computer was old, and had very little value. I did very minimal damage to the building...one broken window pane in the door.

The following morning, I could not believe what I had done. I've never done anything of the sort.

I've been doing a lot of soul searching, and have decided two things:

a) I want to seek professional help for the treatment of alcoholism.

b) I want to clear my head of this, and accept responsibility for my act.

I am currently unemployed, and don't have a lot of money.

My question is this. What is the best route for me to take to remedy the situation? I want to do the right thing, but don't want to end up in jail and not be able to afford the bail to get out. Can I request a Court appointed attorney prior to my surrendering, or initiating contact with the Police Department.

I'm honestly trying to undo some wrongs that I've made, so that I can confront my vice (alcohol), and start rebuilding my life with a clear mind.

Any help or advice that any of you may be willing to give me is very much appreciated.

Thank you in advance.


Asked on 1/07/11, 11:15 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Timothy Klisz Klisz Law Office, PLLC

Get help with your alcohol problem first. That could take a while. Then get employed and save some money. Are you currently hiding from Court because they had previously arrested you or do they have no idea who did it. I have some suggestions for you, but they would better discussed in confidence, not on the public forum. Contact kliszlaw.com to discuss. Tim Klisz

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Answered on 1/13/11, 5:24 am
William Morrison Action Defense Center

You've got it backwards. Sober up first. Then, after you've gone to enough AA meetings and gotten a sponsor, you can make some reasonably rational decisions affecting you, your family, your ex-employer, and the taxpayers of the State of Michigan.

Because if you turn yourself in now, you will consume judicial, law enforcement, and your ex-employer's time and money. You will also make yourself pretty much unemployable for the rest of your life which is a much more severe punishment than the judge can give you. (If you have a clean record, you will most likely not go to jail for this petty crime but be given probation, fines, costs, and reimbursement.)

Being permanently jobless, you and your dependents(if you have any) will become a financial burden on the State.

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Answered on 1/13/11, 9:33 pm


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