Steven Shelton | Fenton Criminal Defense Lawyer

I have been successful in many criminal cases bringing serious felony charges down to low-level misdemeanors or even civil infractions--and in a few cases, getting the cases dismissed entirely--at the trial level. This kept people from having felony records, losing their firearms rights, and losing their jobs. I recently had a case where my client was a 14-year-old boy charged with several serious sex crimes, and I was able to keep him off of the sex offender registry and keep him from having a felony on his record for the rest of his life.I have also had several appellate criminal cases in the last couple of years where mistakes by trial counsel in calculating sentencing guidelines resulted in jail sentences--or even prison sentences--that were not warranted. I was able to successfully argue that these sentences were invalid, and as a result my clients received much shorter prison sentences. In some cases, my clients were able to go home that day, and in one case my client was resentenced from prison to jail, shortening his sentence from potentially several years to a few months.

My clients know that they can trust me. We don't play the games some attorneys play, where they promise potential clients great results before the retainer fee is paid, and then give them the reality after the check is cashed. I have built a reputation as someone who watches out for my clients' best interests and not my own, so my clients know that they are my first priority. I also understand that my clients often have limited financial resources, so I work hard to save my clients as much money as possible while still getting them the best outcome possible.

Clients need to find a lawyer who is knowledgeable, experienced, and (most importantly) honest. Attorneys have their clients lives and livelihoods in their hands, so clients need to know they can trust their attorney to do what is best for the client and not simply churn cases to make as much money as possible.

Local knowledge can be of immense help in some cases, especially criminal cases where the focus of the defense is going to rely on motions or sentencing advocacy. In all cases--criminal and civil--it is exceptionally helpful to know local procedures, what kinds of arguments a judge tends to like or not like, and how helpful the clerks will be. Having said that, I do cases all over Michigan and I know attorneys all over the state, so when I am retained on a case elsewhere in the state, I can always tap into that local knowledge to make sure I know what to look for and what strategies to avoid.

Every case is different, and every client is different. Sometimes, we can give definitive answers in a simple consultation. In most cases, we can give a potential client at least a rough idea of potential options for addressing the issues presented and get an idea of whether it will be necessary for the client to hire an attorney (and if so, if my office is the best option).

We need as much information as possible to get an idea of what a client is facing. The more information we have, the more information we can provide.

I place my clients' best outcomes as my top priority, and I work hard to earn and keep their trust. My staff and I often end up making clients into friends by the time a case is over, and we often keep in touch with our clients for years after a case is over.

I find it very rewarding to help clients who are in a tight spot and are fearful for their future. Sometimes I refer to my suit as my ""cape and tights"" because saving people from prison or jail is about as close as I'll ever get to being a superhero.

I am heavily involved in the performing arts, and have a passion for live theatre (especially community theatre). This makes sense, of course; what better stage than a courtroom, and what better audience than a jury?

I am very involved in the community, having served on non-profit boards and as a volunteer for many local organizations.

• Member | Michigan State Bar Association

• Michigan Super Lawyer | Michigan Super Lawyers | 2014
  Michigan Rising Star | Michigan Super Lawyers | 2013
  Michigan Rising Star | Michigan Super Lawyers | 2012

• Steven Shelton