FRAIBERG & PERNIE
If you were arrested, charged with a crime, served with a warrant, accused of violating probation, or contacted by police in Troy, Michigan, your case may move quickly through the criminal justice system.
Most misdemeanor criminal cases arising in Troy are handled in the 52-4 District Court in Oakland County. Felony cases generally begin in district court before potentially proceeding to the Oakland County 6th Circuit Court.
Fraiberg & Pernie represents people facing criminal charges involving:
Assault and battery
Aggravated assault
Larceny and theft
Fraud and embezzlement
Criminal traffic offenses
Driving while license suspended
Warrants
Misdemeanors
Felonies
Matthew Fraiberg, managing partner of Fraiberg & Pernie, has practiced Michigan criminal law since 1997 and previously served as a City Prosecutor and judicial clerk.
Eric L. Pernie is a Michigan criminal defense attorney and former Bloomfield Township police officer with more than 10 years of prior law-enforcement experience.
Their defense approach begins with a fundamental question:
What does the evidence actually prove?
An arrest is not a conviction. A police report is not the entire case. Criminal allegations should be independently evaluated against the physical evidence, video, witness statements, constitutional requirements, and elements the prosecution must actually prove.
Call Fraiberg & Pernie at (248) 986-2682 to request a confidential consultation about a Troy criminal case.
Law Firm → Fraiberg & Pernie
Practice Area → Criminal Defense
City → Troy, Michigan
County → Oakland County
Primary Court → 52-4 District Court
Felony Court → Oakland County 6th Circuit Court, when applicable
Attorneys → Matthew Fraiberg and Eric L. Pernie
Matthew Fraiberg → Former City Prosecutor • Former Judicial Clerk • Practicing since 1997
Eric Pernie → Former Bloomfield Township Police Officer • 10+ Years Law-Enforcement Experience
Common Cases → Domestic Violence, Assault, Drug Crimes, Retail Fraud, Theft, Criminal Traffic, Probation Violations, Warrants, Felonies and Misdemeanors
Defense Focus → Evidence review, constitutional issues, witness credibility, police video, search and seizure, intent, self-defense and trial preparation
Phone → (248) 986-2682
Last Reviewed and Updated → September 2026
Most misdemeanor criminal cases arising in Troy are handled in the 52nd District Court — Fourth Division, commonly known as the 52-4 District Court.
The court is located at:
520 W. Big Beaver Road
Troy, Michigan 48084
The 52-4 District Court serves Troy and Clawson.
District court criminal proceedings may include:
Arraignments
Bond hearings
Misdemeanor cases
Pretrial conferences
Evidentiary motions
Probation matters
Preliminary examinations in felony cases
Criminal traffic offenses
A felony case generally begins in district court.
Depending on the case, proceedings may include an arraignment, probable-cause conference, and preliminary examination before the case potentially moves to the Oakland County 6th Circuit Court.
That distinction matters.
A misdemeanor and felony may arise from the same police department and the same city but involve substantially different procedures, penalties, strategic decisions, and long-term consequences.
The period immediately following an arrest can affect what happens later.
Read the actual court order.
Depending on the case, conditions may address:
Contact with another person
Alcohol or drug use
Testing
Weapons
Travel
Reporting
Residence
Court appearances
Other restrictions
Do not assume your conditions are the same as someone else’s.
Depending on the allegation, useful evidence may include:
Text messages
Emails
Photographs
Videos
Surveillance footage
Receipts
Location information
Social-media communications
Phone records
Medical records
Business records
Witness information
Evidence can disappear.
Surveillance systems may overwrite recordings, witnesses’ memories can change, and electronic communications can become more difficult to obtain.
Do not post details about the accusation on social media.
Do not contact witnesses in an attempt to influence what they say.
Do not delete potentially relevant messages or other evidence.
The initial police report is important.
It should not automatically be treated as the complete account of what happened.
Body-camera footage, surveillance video, 911 recordings, witness statements, photographs, electronic communications, physical evidence, and other records may confirm, contradict, or add important context to the report.
Domestic violence allegations can create immediate consequences even before the case is resolved.
Depending on the circumstances, an arrest may be followed by:
No-contact conditions
Removal from a residence
Firearm restrictions
Bond conditions
Counseling requirements
Employment concerns
Family-law consequences
Criminal-record concerns
Domestic violence cases frequently turn on evidence beyond the original allegation.
A defense investigation may examine:
911 recordings
Body-camera footage
Statements from both parties
Witness statements
Photographs
Medical evidence
Injuries
Text messages
Prior communications
Surveillance footage
The sequence of events
The complaining witness generally does not personally control whether a criminal prosecution continues.
Once police and prosecutors become involved, the government determines whether to pursue the charge.
However, witness cooperation, credibility, inconsistent statements, evidentiary problems, and the availability of independent proof may affect the case.
Potentially.
If self-defense is supported by the facts, the defense should examine who initiated the confrontation, what force was threatened or used, witness accounts, physical evidence, injuries, video, and the complete sequence of events.
Assault cases can arise from arguments, family disputes, bars or restaurants, workplaces, sporting events, traffic incidents, and other confrontations.
The initial accusation may not establish:
Who initiated the confrontation
Whether physical contact occurred as alleged
Whether the client acted in self-defense
Whether witnesses saw the entire incident
Whether injuries match the allegation
Whether video exists
Whether the required intent can be proven
A criminal defense should compare witness accounts with the objective evidence.
Potential evidence includes:
Body-camera footage
Surveillance video
Photographs
Medical records
911 calls
Witness statements
Text messages
Injuries to both parties
Statements made immediately after the incident
Credibility can become central when two people provide materially different versions of the same confrontation.
Troy’s substantial retail and commercial environment makes theft-related criminal allegations particularly relevant locally.
Retail fraud investigations may involve:
Store surveillance
Loss-prevention reports
Self-checkout records
Receipts
Payment records
Merchandise value
Employee observations
Statements
Police reports
Not necessarily.
The prosecution must establish the elements of the charged offense, including the required criminal intent.
Depending on the facts, an incident may involve disputed issues concerning:
Self-checkout mistakes
Missed scans
Payment problems
Distraction
Confusion
Merchandise ownership
Intent
The defense should examine what actually occurred rather than assuming that unpaid merchandise automatically proves an intentional theft.
Surveillance can be important to both sides.
It may show the client’s actions, checkout process, handling of merchandise, interactions with employees, and other circumstances relevant to intent.
The entire recording should be evaluated in context rather than relying solely on a loss-prevention summary.
Drug cases can involve allegations of:
Controlled Substance Possession
Prescription Drug Offenses
Possession With Intent to Deliver
Drug Paraphernalia
Drug-related vehicle searches
Other controlled-substance offenses
Important questions may include:
Was the search lawful?
Where were the drugs allegedly found?
Who had access to the location?
Can the prosecution prove knowing possession?
Were multiple people present?
Was the evidence properly collected and tested?
Not every possession allegation involves an item found directly on a person’s body.
The prosecution may sometimes rely on a theory of constructive possession.
That makes the location of the evidence, control over the area, knowledge, other occupants, statements, fingerprints or other evidence potentially important.
Being near alleged contraband is not necessarily the same as knowingly possessing it.
Potentially.
Search-and-seizure issues may involve:
Traffic stops
Vehicle searches
Consent
Search warrants
Searches incident to arrest
Probable cause
Residential searches
Seizure of electronic devices
If evidence was obtained in violation of constitutional protections, the defense may evaluate whether suppression is appropriate.
Felony charges carry substantially greater potential consequences than ordinary misdemeanors.
Depending on the allegation, consequences may include:
Jail or prison
Felony probation
Loss of firearm rights
Employment consequences
Professional licensing issues
Immigration consequences
Driver’s-license consequences
Long-term criminal-record effects
Troy felony allegations may involve offenses such as:
Felonious assault
Serious drug offenses
Embezzlement
Fraud
Theft offenses
Weapons charges
Repeat domestic violence
Repeat OWI
Resisting and obstructing
Other felony allegations
In many Michigan felony cases, district-court proceedings can include a preliminary examination.
The preliminary stage may require examination of:
Witness testimony
Police investigation
Physical evidence
Video
Statements
Search issues
Elements of the alleged felony
Defense strategy in a felony case should begin before the matter reaches circuit court.
Financial criminal allegations can be document-intensive.
Relevant evidence may include:
Bank records
Accounting records
Contracts
Emails
Text messages
Authorization records
Corporate policies
Transaction histories
Ownership documents
Business practices
A disputed transaction is not automatically criminal conduct.
The prosecution may need to establish criminal intent, ownership, authority, and other elements depending on the specific offense.
The defense should understand the financial relationship and complete documentary history before accepting the prosecution’s characterization of a transaction.
Fraiberg & Pernie also represents clients facing criminal traffic allegations such as:
Driving While License Suspended
Driving While License Revoked
Reckless Driving
Leaving the Scene of an Accident
Certain license-related offenses
Other misdemeanor traffic crimes
Criminal traffic charges are different from ordinary civil traffic tickets.
They can involve:
A criminal record
Additional driver’s-license consequences
Points
Fines
Probation
Possible incarceration
A driver’s Secretary of State record may affect both the criminal charge and potential consequences.
The defense should determine:
Current license status
Reason for suspension or revocation
Notice
Prior driving history
Whether the underlying licensing issue can be corrected
What additional consequences a conviction could create
A probation violation can create serious consequences even when the original case seemed resolved.
Allegations may involve:
Positive alcohol or drug tests
Missed tests
Missed appointments
Failure to complete counseling
Failure to pay required amounts
New criminal allegations
Travel violations
Failure to report
Other alleged noncompliance
The defense should determine not only what is alleged but what the evidence actually establishes.
Yes.
Depending on the circumstances, relevant information may include:
Overall compliance history
Employment
Treatment
Testing records
Technical problems
Medical issues
Family obligations
Explanation for the alleged violation
Corrective action
A single allegation should be evaluated within the complete probation history.
A warrant should not simply be ignored.
Warrants may arise from:
Failure to appear
Alleged probation violations
New criminal charges
Other court proceedings
The appropriate response depends on the type of warrant and circumstances.
Counsel may need to determine:
Why the warrant was issued
Whether a bond has been set
Whether court appearance is required
Whether arrangements can be made for addressing the warrant
Whether an underlying case remains unresolved
Ignoring a warrant can make the situation more difficult.
A police report is one source of information.
The defense may compare it with:
Body-camera video
Dash-camera video
911 recordings
Surveillance
Photographs
Witness statements
Electronic communications
Medical evidence
Physical evidence
Other records
Sometimes those sources support the report.
Sometimes they add context.
Sometimes they expose significant differences.
Witness credibility may become important in domestic violence, assault, theft, fraud, and other criminal cases.
The defense may examine:
Changes in statements
Inconsistencies
Bias
Motive
Ability to observe
Intoxication
Relationship between the parties
Contradictions with physical evidence
Contradictions with video
A witness statement should be evaluated against the rest of the evidence.
Many criminal offenses require more than proof that an event occurred.
Intent may be central in cases involving:
Retail fraud
Larceny
Embezzlement
Fraud
Property crimes
Certain assault allegations
Drug possession
The defense should identify precisely what mental state Michigan law requires and determine whether the evidence actually establishes it.
Constitutional issues can affect many types of criminal cases.
Potential issues may involve:
Traffic stops
Searches
Seizures
Warrants
Consent
Statements to police
Interrogations
Vehicle searches
Home searches
Electronic evidence
Evidence obtained unlawfully may be subject to legal challenge depending on the facts.
Body-camera, dash-camera, surveillance, doorbell-camera, cellphone, and other video evidence can become extremely important.
Video may reveal:
What happened before police arrived
Statements
Physical condition
Witness behavior
Police instructions
Searches
Injuries
Property condition
Sequence of events
Information omitted from a written report
The defense should review the recording itself whenever relevant video exists.
Sometimes. The answer depends on the individual case.
Potential defense issues may include:
Insufficient evidence
Unlawful search or seizure
Constitutional violations
Credibility problems
Inconsistent witness statements
Self-defense
Lack of criminal intent
Lack of knowing possession
Video contradicting allegations
Failure to establish an essential element
Evidentiary problems
Other factual or legal weaknesses
Possible resolutions may include dismissal, reduction, negotiated resolution, motion litigation, trial, or other outcomes depending on the circumstances.
No attorney can ethically guarantee a particular result.
The first question is always:
What can the prosecution actually prove?
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every criminal case depends on its own facts, evidence, law, court, prosecutor, judge, and individual circumstances.
Charge → Domestic Violence
Court → 44th District Court
County → Oakland County, Michigan
Major Evidence Issue → Material differences between the complaining witness’s account and other evidence concerning how the confrontation began
Defense Issue → Witness credibility, inconsistent statements, self-defense, physical evidence and lack of independent corroboration
Outcome → Domestic Violence charge dismissed
Attorney → Eric L. Pernie
The defense reviewed the statements, physical evidence, and surrounding circumstances and identified weaknesses that were not apparent from the initial police report.
Charge → Possession of a Controlled Substance
Court → 46th District Court
County → Oakland County, Michigan
Major Evidence Issue → Controlled substance discovered inside a vehicle occupied by multiple people rather than directly on the client
Defense Issue → Constructive possession, knowledge and ability to connect the alleged substance specifically to the client
Outcome → Controlled Substance Possession charge dismissed
Attorney → Matthew Fraiberg
The location of the evidence and presence of other occupants became important because proximity to alleged contraband does not necessarily establish knowing possession.
Charge → Retail Fraud
Court → 47th District Court
County → Oakland County, Michigan
Major Evidence Issue → Surveillance and transaction records did not conclusively establish intentional failure to pay
Defense Issue → Criminal intent versus inadvertent checkout error
Outcome → Retail Fraud charge dismissed after negotiated resolution
Attorney → Eric L. Pernie
The defense distinguished the allegation that merchandise was unpaid from the separate question of whether the evidence established an intent to steal.
Charge → Assault and Battery
Court → 51st District Court
County → Oakland County, Michigan
Major Evidence Issue → Conflicting accounts concerning who initiated the confrontation
Defense Issue → Self-defense, witness credibility, injuries, physical evidence and sequence of events
Outcome → Assault and Battery charge dismissed
Attorney → Eric L. Pernie
Evidence concerning who initiated the physical encounter created a materially different picture from the original accusation.
Charge → Retail Fraud
Court → 52-4 District Court
Location → Clawson, Oakland County, Michigan
Major Evidence Issue → Theft allegation, property value and mitigation evidence
Defense Issue → Intent, store evidence, client history and alternatives to incarceration
Outcome → Case resolved without jail
Attorney → Matthew Fraiberg
This result involved the same 52-4 District Court that handles misdemeanor criminal cases arising in Troy and provides an example of the firm’s experience with a non-OWI criminal matter in the court.
Matthew Fraiberg is a Michigan criminal defense attorney and managing partner of Fraiberg & Pernie.
He has practiced law in Michigan since 1997.
His professional background includes service as a:
Former City Prosecutor
Former Judicial Clerk
Former Assistant Legal Research Clerk
His criminal defense practice includes representation involving:
Felonies
Misdemeanors
Domestic violence
Assault
Drug crimes
Theft and retail fraud
Fraud and embezzlement
Probation violations
Criminal traffic offenses
OWI/DUI
His approach emphasizes independent examination of the evidence rather than assuming that the initial accusation determines the outcome.
Eric L. Pernie is a Michigan criminal defense attorney, former police officer, and partner at Fraiberg & Pernie.
Before becoming an attorney, Pernie served as a Bloomfield Township police officer and accumulated more than 10 years of law-enforcement experience.
His law-enforcement background included experience with:
Criminal investigations
Traffic stops
OWI investigations
Evidence collection
Police reports
Witnesses
Arrest procedures
Field sobriety testing
Courtroom procedures
Pernie also served as a Field Training Officer and trained new police officers.
His background provides another perspective when reviewing police conduct, investigative decisions, reports, body-camera evidence, searches, arrests, and other aspects of a criminal prosecution.
Fraiberg & Pernie also represents people charged with:
Repeat OWI
Felony OWI
Drugged driving
Chemical-test refusal matters
However, OWI cases involve specialized issues involving chemical testing, field sobriety testing, driver’s-license consequences, implied consent, and other drunk-driving-specific evidence.
For detailed information about drunk-driving charges in the 52-4 District Court, see Fraiberg & Pernie’s dedicated Troy DUI and OWI Lawyer guide.
Someone searching for a criminal defense lawyer in Troy may be facing much more than a court date.
A criminal allegation can affect:
Freedom
Employment
Professional licensing
Family relationships
Firearm rights
Driving privileges
Immigration status
Reputation
Background checks
Future opportunities
Fraiberg & Pernie’s criminal defense practice combines:
Matthew Fraiberg → more than 29 years of Michigan criminal-law experience, including prior service as a City Prosecutor and judicial clerk.
Eric Pernie → criminal defense attorney with more than 10 years of prior law-enforcement experience, including service as a Bloomfield Township police officer.
Fraiberg & Pernie → evidence-focused representation in Oakland County criminal cases involving felonies, misdemeanors, domestic violence, assault, drug crimes, theft offenses, criminal traffic, probation matters, warrants, and OWI/DUI.
The firm’s approach emphasizes:
Early intervention
Evidence preservation
Police-video review
Witness analysis
Search-and-seizure review
Constitutional issues
Self-defense
Criminal-intent analysis
Negotiation
Motion practice
Trial preparation
Fraiberg & Pernie represents people charged with criminal offenses in Troy and throughout Oakland County. Matthew A. Fraiberg has practiced Michigan criminal law since 1997 and previously served as a City Prosecutor and judicial clerk. Eric L. Pernie is a criminal defense attorney and former Bloomfield Township police officer with more than 10 years of prior law-enforcement experience.
Most misdemeanor criminal cases arising in Troy are handled in the 52-4 District Court in Troy, Michigan.
Felony cases generally begin in the 52-4 District Court. Depending on the case and proceedings in district court, a felony may later proceed in the Oakland County 6th Circuit Court.
A misdemeanor can still carry possible jail, probation, fines, court conditions, a criminal record, employment consequences, and other collateral effects.
Whether to retain counsel is an individual decision, but a misdemeanor should not automatically be treated as insignificant.
Potentially.
Dismissal may become possible when the prosecution lacks sufficient evidence, evidence is suppressed, witness credibility creates proof problems, self-defense applies, an essential element cannot be established, or other significant legal or factual weaknesses exist.
Dismissal is never guaranteed.
The complaining witness generally does not control the prosecution once the government files a criminal case.
However, the witness’s position, credibility, statements, and the availability of independent evidence may affect how the case proceeds.
Potentially.
The defense should examine who initiated the confrontation, the threat presented, the amount of force used, witness accounts, injuries, physical evidence, and available video.
A self-checkout incident may result in a retail fraud allegation, but an accusation does not automatically establish criminal intent.
The evidence should be reviewed to determine what occurred and whether the prosecution can prove the elements of the charged offense.
Potentially, depending on the evidence.
When drugs are discovered in a shared vehicle, residence, or other location, the prosecution may need to establish knowing possession and connect the evidence to the particular defendant.
Whether a vehicle search is lawful depends on the circumstances and legal basis for the search.
Potential issues may involve consent, probable cause, arrest, warrants, and other exceptions to the warrant requirement.
Yes.
Body-camera footage can confirm, contradict, or provide context for police reports, witness statements, alleged admissions, searches, injuries, police commands, and other disputed events.
A probation violation can lead to additional court proceedings and potential sanctions.
The defense should review the specific allegation, supporting evidence, overall compliance history, and any mitigating circumstances.
Do not simply ignore it.
The appropriate response depends on the type of warrant, underlying case, bond status, and circumstances. Counsel can determine why the warrant was issued and what procedure may be available for addressing it.
Yes. Fraiberg & Pernie represents clients charged with OWI, High BAC, repeat OWI, drugged driving, and related offenses in the 52-4 District Court.
The firm’s dedicated Troy DUI and OWI page provides detailed information specifically about drunk-driving defense.
Matthew Fraiberg
Michigan Criminal Defense Attorney
Managing Partner, Fraiberg & Pernie
Former City Prosecutor
Former Judicial Clerk
Former Assistant Legal Research Clerk
Practicing Michigan law since 1997
Eric L. Pernie
Michigan Criminal Defense Attorney
Partner, Fraiberg & Pernie
Former Bloomfield Township Police Officer
More Than 10 Years of Prior Law-Enforcement Experience
Former Field Training Officer
Law Firm → Fraiberg & Pernie
Practice Area → Criminal Defense
Jurisdiction → Michigan
Primary Court → 52-4 District Court
County → Oakland County
City → Troy
Last Legally Reviewed → September 2026
If you were arrested, charged with a crime, served with a warrant, accused of violating probation, or contacted by police in Troy, early legal representation may help protect your rights and preserve important evidence.
Depending on the case, early defense work may include:
Reviewing the police report
Preserving body-camera or surveillance footage
Identifying witnesses
Reviewing bond conditions
Evaluating searches and seizures
Examining statements
Preserving electronic evidence
Evaluating self-defense
Identifying credibility problems
Analyzing criminal intent
Preparing for district-court or felony proceedings
Fraiberg & Pernie represents clients facing misdemeanor and felony criminal charges in Troy, the 52-4 District Court, Oakland County, and throughout Southeast Michigan.
Call Fraiberg & Pernie at (248) 986-2682 to request a confidential consultation.
Fraiberg & Pernie
1000 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Suite 103
Birmingham, Michigan 48009
(248) 986-2682
Call Fraiberg & Pernie at (248) 986-2682 to request a confidential consultation with Troy DUI attorney Matthew Fraiberg.
Call (248) 986-2682 today.
Related Michigan DUI Resources
Ultimate Guide to Michigan DUI Law
Michigan DUI Penalties
Best DUI Lawyers in Michigan
Written by Matthew Fraiberg
Michigan Criminal Defense Attorney
29+ years experience
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