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Destroying the Presumption of Innocence

A few months ago, Shannon represented a client at a retrial on a case that previously resulted in a hung…
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Shannon Smith Nationally Recognized Sex Crimes Defense Attorney - The Importance of the Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard Trial Verdict
The Importance of the Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard Trial VerdictArticles

The Importance of the Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard Trial Verdict

The Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard verdict helped bring light to the harmful effects of false allegations. Men (and women) are falsely accused of sexual assault, criminal sexual conduct, and other heinous crimes each and every…
June 4, 20221 min Read More
Shannon Smith Nationally Recognized Sex Crimes Defense Attorney - Defense Mechanism
Defense MechanismArticles

Defense Mechanism

FOUR YEARS SINCE the curtain fell on the highly publicized trial of disgraced Michigan State University doctor Larry Nassar, Michigan's courts are playing venue to another public court spectacle. This time, the national spotlight is trained…
May 31, 20225 min Read More
Shannon Smith Nationally Recognized Sex Crimes Defense Attorney - What is the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act (HYTA)?
What is the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act (HYTA)?Articles

What is the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act (HYTA)?

The Holmes Youthful Trainee Act, or HYTA, is a Michigan statute that's only available to people who are charged with a crime between the ages of 17 and 24 years old. This statute is especially important…
March 3, 20222 min Read More
Shannon Smith Nationally Recognized Sex Crimes Defense Attorney - The Dangers of Social Media
The Dangers of Social MediaArticles

The Dangers of Social Media

Social media can be a wonderful tool in just your regular everyday life. The unfortunate side of social media is that it allows individuals to hide behind a keyboard or a computer screen or a phone…
February 28, 20221 min Read More
Shannon Smith Nationally Recognized Sex Crimes Defense Attorney - Statutory Rape Explained
Statutory Rape ExplainedArticles

Statutory Rape Explained

Criminal sexual conduct in the third degree is more commonly known as statutory rape, and the situation that we see most often is two young people, usually in high school, who decide to have a consensual…
February 17, 20221 min Read More
Shannon Smith Nationally Recognized Sex Crimes Defense Attorney - Can I Be Charged With A Sex Crime With No Evidence?
Can I Be Charged With A Sex Crime With No Evidence?Articles

Can I Be Charged With A Sex Crime With No Evidence?

This is a common question that a lot of my clients ask whether they've been charged with a crime or not. And the truth of the matter is that you can be charged with a crime,…
February 14, 20221 min Read More
Shannon Smith Nationally Recognized Sex Crimes Defense Attorney - 4th Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct Explained
4th Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct ExplainedArticles

4th Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct Explained

4th degree criminal sexual conduct is a High Court misdemeanor, which means it\'s also treated like a felony in some circumstances that subjects the person accused to two years in prison and sex offender registry. A…
February 7, 20221 min Read More
Shannon Smith Nationally Recognized Sex Crimes Defense Attorney - 3rd Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct Explained
3rd Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct ExplainedArticles

3rd Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct Explained

3RD DEGREE CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT IS A FELONY IN MICHIGAN At Smith Lehman, we see clients most frequently charged with third degree criminal sexual conduct when the complaining witness or the alleged victim is someone who…
February 7, 20221 min Read More
Shannon Smith Nationally Recognized Sex Crimes Defense Attorney - 2nd Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct Explained
Is 2nd Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct A Felony?Articles

Is 2nd Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct A Felony?

What is Second Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct? In Michigan, second-degree criminal sexual conduct is defined as sexual penetration with another person when any of the following are true: The accused is 17 years of age or…
February 7, 20223 min Read More
Shannon Smith Nationally Recognized Sex Crimes Defense Attorney - 1st Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct Explained
is 1st Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct A Felony?Articles

is 1st Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct A Felony?

1st Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct Explained In Michigan, first degree criminal sexual conduct is a felony punishable by up to life in prison. The crime is defined in Michigan Penal Code 750.520b as non-consensual sexual penetration…
February 7, 20223 min Read More
Shannon Smith Nationally Recognized Sex Crimes Defense Attorney - SADO: Spotlight: Shannon Smith
SADO: Spotlight: Shannon SmithArticles

SADO: Spotlight: Shannon Smith

In an interview with the State Appellate Defenders Office, Shannon answered a few questions. Please tell us about your background, where you practice, and how long you have been a criminal defense lawyer. While my practice…
February 4, 20224 min Read More
Shannon Smith Nationally Recognized Sex Crimes Defense Attorney - How Long Does a Michigan Criminal Sexual Conduct Case Take?
How Long Does a Michigan Criminal Sexual Conduct Case Take?Articles

How Long Does a Michigan Criminal Sexual Conduct Case Take?

One common frustration our clients find is the amount of time it takes to get through a case involving criminal sexual conduct. Most people and their close family members become easily annoyed about the amount of…
November 16, 20214 min Read More
Shannon Smith Nationally Recognized Sex Crimes Defense Attorney - The Importance of the Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard Trial Verdict
The Importance of the Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard Trial VerdictArticles

The Importance of the Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard Trial Verdict

The Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard verdict helped bring light to the harmful effects of false allegations. Men (and women) are falsely accused of sexual assault, criminal sexual conduct, and other heinous crimes each and every…
June 4, 20221 min Read More
Shannon Smith Nationally Recognized Sex Crimes Defense Attorney - Defense Mechanism
Defense MechanismArticles

Defense Mechanism

FOUR YEARS SINCE the curtain fell on the highly publicized trial of disgraced Michigan State University doctor Larry Nassar, Michigan's courts are playing venue to another public court spectacle. This time, the national spotlight is trained…
May 31, 20225 min Read More
Shannon Smith Nationally Recognized Sex Crimes Defense Attorney - What is the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act (HYTA)?
What is the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act (HYTA)?Articles

What is the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act (HYTA)?

The Holmes Youthful Trainee Act, or HYTA, is a Michigan statute that's only available to people who are charged with a crime between the ages of 17 and 24 years old. This statute is especially important…
March 3, 20222 min Read More
Shannon Smith Nationally Recognized Sex Crimes Defense Attorney - The Dangers of Social Media
The Dangers of Social MediaArticles

The Dangers of Social Media

Social media can be a wonderful tool in just your regular everyday life. The unfortunate side of social media is that it allows individuals to hide behind a keyboard or a computer screen or a phone…
February 28, 20221 min Read More
Shannon Smith Nationally Recognized Sex Crimes Defense Attorney - Statutory Rape Explained
Statutory Rape ExplainedArticles

Statutory Rape Explained

Criminal sexual conduct in the third degree is more commonly known as statutory rape, and the situation that we see most often is two young people, usually in high school, who decide to have a consensual…
February 17, 20221 min Read More
Shannon Smith Nationally Recognized Sex Crimes Defense Attorney - Can I Be Charged With A Sex Crime With No Evidence?
Can I Be Charged With A Sex Crime With No Evidence?Articles

Can I Be Charged With A Sex Crime With No Evidence?

This is a common question that a lot of my clients ask whether they've been charged with a crime or not. And the truth of the matter is that you can be charged with a crime,…
February 14, 20221 min Read More
Shannon Smith Nationally Recognized Sex Crimes Defense Attorney - 4th Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct Explained
4th Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct ExplainedArticles

4th Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct Explained

4th degree criminal sexual conduct is a High Court misdemeanor, which means it\'s also treated like a felony in some circumstances that subjects the person accused to two years in prison and sex offender registry. A…
February 7, 20221 min Read More
Shannon Smith Nationally Recognized Sex Crimes Defense Attorney - 3rd Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct Explained
3rd Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct ExplainedArticles

3rd Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct Explained

3RD DEGREE CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT IS A FELONY IN MICHIGAN At Smith Lehman, we see clients most frequently charged with third degree criminal sexual conduct when the complaining witness or the alleged victim is someone who…
February 7, 20221 min Read More
Shannon Smith Nationally Recognized Sex Crimes Defense Attorney - 2nd Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct Explained
Is 2nd Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct A Felony?Articles

Is 2nd Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct A Felony?

What is Second Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct? In Michigan, second-degree criminal sexual conduct is defined as sexual penetration with another person when any of the following are true: The accused is 17 years of age or…
February 7, 20223 min Read More
Shannon Smith Nationally Recognized Sex Crimes Defense Attorney - 1st Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct Explained
is 1st Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct A Felony?Articles

is 1st Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct A Felony?

1st Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct Explained In Michigan, first degree criminal sexual conduct is a felony punishable by up to life in prison. The crime is defined in Michigan Penal Code 750.520b as non-consensual sexual penetration…
February 7, 20223 min Read More
Shannon Smith Nationally Recognized Sex Crimes Defense Attorney - SADO: Spotlight: Shannon Smith
SADO: Spotlight: Shannon SmithArticles

SADO: Spotlight: Shannon Smith

In an interview with the State Appellate Defenders Office, Shannon answered a few questions. Please tell us about your background, where you practice, and how long you have been a criminal defense lawyer. While my practice…
February 4, 20224 min Read More
Shannon Smith Nationally Recognized Sex Crimes Defense Attorney - How Long Does a Michigan Criminal Sexual Conduct Case Take?
How Long Does a Michigan Criminal Sexual Conduct Case Take?Articles

How Long Does a Michigan Criminal Sexual Conduct Case Take?

One common frustration our clients find is the amount of time it takes to get through a case involving criminal sexual conduct. Most people and their close family members become easily annoyed about the amount of…
November 16, 20214 min Read More

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