Stalking Defense in Grand Rapids

Coordinated Defense for Michigan Stalking Charges & Protective Orders

Stalking allegations can bring criminal charges, immediate communication restrictions, and electronic records that require careful review. Tanis Schultz represents people accused of stalking in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Our coordinated legal team evaluates the charge, applicable court orders, and evidence surrounding the reported contact.

We handle misdemeanor and felony criminal defense matters. Our attorneys bring more than 50 years of combined experience across our practice areas and a proven record of litigating against government institutions and other powerful entities.

Request a consultation about a stalking accusation or protective-order concern. Call (616) 227-3737 to speak with our team.

How Michigan Law Defines Stalking

Under MCL 750.411h, stalking is a willful course of conduct involving repeated or continuing harassment of another person. A course of conduct generally requires more than an isolated event, so the number, nature, and context of the alleged contacts are central to the legal analysis.

The prosecution must establish unconsented contact that would cause a reasonable person to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed, or molested. It must also prove that the alleged victim experienced one or more of those reactions. These objective and subjective requirements are separate elements of a stalking charge.

Michigan stalking law also includes a domestic-relationship subdivision. It can apply when the parties are current or former spouses, have dated, share a child, or are current or former members of the same household. That relationship may affect the investigation and whether a protective personal order is involved, but the prosecution must still prove each required statutory element.

Michigan Stalking Charges & Potential Penalties

The possible punishment depends on the classification of the charge and the circumstances alleged. Ordinary stalking under MCL 750.411h is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.

Stalking can become a felony when the person targeted is younger than 18 and the accused is at least five years older. That classification carries up to five years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.

Aggravated stalking under MCL 750.411i may be charged when the alleged conduct involves:

• A violation of a restraining order or injunction that was known to the accused.
• A prior stalking conviction.
• A credible threat against the alleged victim or a member of that person’s family.

Aggravated stalking is a felony. When the person targeted is younger than 18 and the accused has the same statutory age difference, the maximum punishment is 10 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $15,000, or both.

A stalking conviction can also result in probation, generally up to five years for a misdemeanor stalking conviction, though aggravated stalking carries a minimum five-year probation term with no fixed cap. Conditions may include no-contact restrictions and an evaluation for counseling, extending the consequences beyond any period of incarceration or other sentence.

What Happens After a Stalking Accusation in Grand Rapids?

A stalking allegation can trigger immediate restrictions through a protective personal order, a no-contact condition, or another court order while the criminal case proceeds. An ex parte order can take effect before the accused appears in court. Once it’s served, the time to contest it’s narrow, and a violation can create separate legal problems.

The criminal process depends partly on whether the accusation is charged as a misdemeanor or felony. Misdemeanor cases in Grand Rapids are typically handled by the 61st District Court. Felony matters in Kent County proceed to the 17th Circuit Court.

Domestic-related allegations don’t automatically end if the reporting person changes an account or asks that charges be dropped. The Kent County Prosecutor’s Office retains discretion over whether charges proceed after a recantation. In court, however, the prosecution remains responsible for proving every statutory element of the charged offense.

How We Review Evidence in Kent County Stalking Cases

Our defense analysis begins with the precise allegations and statutory requirements. We examine whether the claimed events establish a repeated course of conduct, whether the contact was unconsented, and whether the evidence supports both the reasonable-person standard and the alleged victim’s actual emotional response.

Electronic communications can provide important context about identity, timing, prior communication, and the nature of an exchange. Relevant records may include:

• Text messages and emails
• Call records
• Social media activity
• Audio and video

We review complete conversations and their chronology rather than relying only on selected messages or isolated recordings. These details may clarify whether the reported conduct meets Michigan’s legal definition.

Clients work with a coordinated group of attorneys and support staff rather than one lawyer alone. We use digital forensics to assess audio, video, and electronic records obtained from Kent County law enforcement. This team-based process allows us to identify disputed facts, evaluate protective-order issues, and develop a defense strategy grounded in the evidence and charge.