FRAIBERG & PERNIE
If you were arrested, charged with a crime, served with a warrant or contacted by police in Bloomfield Township, Michigan, your case may begin in the 48th District Court in Bloomfield Hills.
Fraiberg & Pernie offers a combination that is especially relevant to a Bloomfield Township criminal case:
Matthew Fraiberg has practiced law in Michigan since 1997. He is a former city prosecutor, former judicial clerk and former assistant legal research clerk who worked with Oakland County Circuit Court judges. He also serves in the Managed Assigned Counsel system connected with the 48th District Court.
Eric L. Pernie is a criminal-defense attorney and former Bloomfield Township police officer. His law-enforcement background provides firsthand knowledge of traffic stops, arrests, police reports, body-camera footage and evidence collection.
Together, Matthew and Eric examine what happened, whether police followed lawful procedures, what the evidence actually shows and what defense strategy fits the client and court.
An arrest or criminal charge is an allegation—not a conviction.
Call (248) 986-2682 to request a confidential consultation.
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Community | Bloomfield Township, Michigan |
| County | Oakland County |
| District court | 48th District Court |
| Felony court after bindover | Oakland County Circuit Court |
| Common matters | OWI, domestic violence, assault, drug charges, theft, retail fraud, warrants and probation violations |
| Attorneys | Matthew Fraiberg and Eric L. Pernie |
| Distinguishing background | Former city prosecutor, former judicial clerk and former Bloomfield Township police officer |
| Practice focus | Michigan criminal defense and OWI defense |
| Phone | (248) 986-2682 |
Short answer: Remain calm, exercise your right to remain silent, follow every bond condition, preserve possible evidence and speak with a criminal-defense attorney promptly.
Take these practical steps:
Do not resist or interfere with officers.
Do not try to explain the incident without legal advice.
Save all police, bond and court documents.
Follow testing, travel and no-contact restrictions exactly.
Preserve messages, photographs, receipts, videos and other potential evidence.
Write down what happened while your memory is fresh.
Identify possible witnesses.
Do not post about the case online.
Do not delete evidence or contact a witness inappropriately.
Confirm the next court date and every deadline.
Early legal work may help identify evidence, preserve video, address bond questions and prepare for the next hearing. It does not guarantee a particular result.
Eric Pernie served as a Bloomfield Township police officer before becoming a criminal-defense lawyer. That background helps the firm evaluate:
The reason for a traffic stop or initial police contact
Officer observations and investigative decisions
Arrest procedures
Police-report language
Body-camera and dash-camera footage
Field-sobriety testing
Searches and evidence collection
Differences between a written report and the underlying recording
Former law-enforcement experience does not decide a case. It can provide useful context when reviewing how an investigation was conducted.
Matthew Fraiberg has practiced law since 1997. His experience includes felony and misdemeanor defense, OWI cases, warrants, probation violations, negotiations, motions and trial preparation.
Matthew’s prior work as a city prosecutor, judicial clerk and assistant legal research clerk provides perspective on how charges are evaluated, how legal issues are researched and how courts analyze evidence and motions.
Fraiberg & Pernie regularly handles criminal and OWI matters in the 48th District Court and throughout Oakland County. Court familiarity helps the attorneys explain procedures, anticipate the next stage and prepare the client for bond, pretrial proceedings and other hearings.
Clients receive clear answers about the charge, evidence, court process and available options. The attorneys’ role is to provide an honest assessment—not to promise a dismissal or other result before reviewing the case.
The 48th District Court handles misdemeanor cases arising within its jurisdiction and the preliminary stages of felony prosecutions.
The court may address:
Arraignment
Bond and release conditions
Alcohol or drug testing
No-contact orders
Misdemeanor pretrials
Probable cause conferences
Preliminary examinations
Evidentiary motions
Pleas and trials
Sentencing and probation
Bond and testing requirements depend on the charge, allegations, history and court order. Avoid relying on general descriptions of the court. Read and follow the actual conditions imposed in your case.
The court is located at 4280 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48302.
It serves Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, West Bloomfield Township, Keego Harbor, Orchard Lake Village and Sylvan Lake.
OWI cases may involve driving observations, body-camera and dash-camera video, field-sobriety testing, preliminary breath tests, Datamaster records, blood testing, toxicology reports and driver statements.
The defense should examine whether the stop was lawful, whether probable cause supported the arrest, whether tests were administered properly and whether the video supports the written report.
Learn more about Michigan High BAC OWI defense and review Michigan’s OWI statute, MCL 257.625.
Domestic-violence allegations can produce immediate no-contact, residence, firearm, testing and other bond restrictions.
Evidence may include 911 calls, body-camera footage, photographs, medical records, messages and conflicting accounts from the people involved. Credibility and consistency frequently require close examination.
Assault cases may turn on who initiated an encounter, whether self-defense applies, whether an injury occurred and whether witnesses, photographs or video support the accusation.
Drug cases can involve questions about the reason for police contact, authority to search, possession or control, laboratory testing, chain of custody, statements and digital communications.
Theft-related charges may depend heavily on intent. Evidence can include surveillance footage, receipts, loss-prevention reports, witness statements and financial or electronic records.
Alleged violations may involve missed or positive tests, failure to report, new charges, unauthorized travel, prohibited contact or failure to complete treatment. The defense may address both whether a violation occurred and the appropriate consequence if one is established.
A felony arising in Bloomfield Township generally begins in district court. Early stages may include arraignment, bond, a probable cause conference and a preliminary examination. If the case is bound over, it proceeds to Oakland County Circuit Court.
Police collect reports, recordings, statements, physical evidence and digital information. A prosecutor or other authorized charging official evaluates whether to issue a charge.
The court advises the accused of the charge and addresses plea, bond, release conditions and future dates. Conditions may affect testing, travel, contact with another person, weapons and daily activity.
The defense requests and reviews the available evidence rather than relying solely on the accusation or police-report summary.
The parties discuss the case while legal, constitutional and factual issues are investigated. When supported by the facts and law, the defense may challenge a stop, search, seizure, statement or other evidence.
A case may conclude through dismissal, reduction, negotiated resolution or trial. The correct path depends on the evidence, law, client’s informed objectives and risks of each option.
A police report is important, but it is not the entire case. Depending on the allegations, the defense may examine:
Body-camera and dash-camera recordings
Business, home or doorbell-camera footage
911 calls and dispatch audio
Witness statements
Photographs
Text messages and emails
Social-media and location information
Search warrants
Medical and laboratory records
Physical evidence
Breath-, blood- or toxicology-test records
The review centers on five questions:
What happened?
What evidence exists?
Was it obtained lawfully?
Is it reliable and admissible?
Can the prosecution prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt?
Video may show officer instructions, statements, witness interviews, searches, physical appearance, injuries and scene conditions. It may support the police report, add context or reveal a meaningful inconsistency.
The defense may examine whether police had lawful grounds for a detention or traffic stop, whether consent was voluntary, whether a warrant was required and whether officers stayed within the lawful scope of a search.
Statements can become evidence. The defense may evaluate when and where a statement occurred, whether the person was in custody, whether questioning took place, whether warnings were required and whether the statement was voluntary.
Possibly, but never automatically.
A reduction or dismissal may depend on:
Insufficient evidence
Witness credibility or availability
Contradictory accounts
Video evidence
Search-and-seizure violations
Unlawfully obtained statements
Testing or chain-of-custody problems
Missing evidence
Failure to prove a required element
Negotiations and legally relevant mitigation
Some cases contain significant weaknesses. Others are supported by substantial evidence. An attorney should investigate before offering an opinion about the likely path or result.
Bond conditions can affect everyday life while a case is pending. Possible requirements include:
Alcohol or drug testing
No contact with a protected person
Travel restrictions
Restrictions involving alcohol, drugs or weapons
Reporting requirements
Attendance at every hearing
An alleged violation can lead to a hearing, new restrictions, modified bond or detention in serious circumstances.
If you do not understand a condition, obtain clarification before acting. Missing a test, contacting someone contrary to an order or traveling without required approval can create a new problem separate from the original charge.
Avoid:
Giving unnecessary statements to police
Missing court or testing
Violating a no-contact order
Posting about the case online
Deleting messages or recordings
Ignoring a warrant
Contacting witnesses inappropriately
Driving contrary to license restrictions
Assuming the charge will disappear
Waiting until the last moment to prepare
Follow every written court order while the case is pending.
Every decision depends on the charge, allegations, history, judge and applicable law. The safest approach is to take every bond and testing requirement seriously and follow the written order exactly.
If you may be a suspect or target, consider obtaining legal advice before deciding whether to answer questions or participate in an interview.
Possibly. A reduction depends on the evidence, legal issues, history, negotiations and circumstances. It cannot be promised.
Some cases are dismissed when the facts or law justify that result. No ethical lawyer can guarantee a dismissal.
Sometimes. An attorney may be able to identify the court, reason for the warrant and appropriate procedure for addressing it. The available process depends on the circumstances.
Possibly. The answer depends on the charge, facts, history, applicable law and ultimate resolution.
The court generally addresses the charge, rights, plea, bond, release conditions and future hearing dates.
It handles preliminary felony stages. A case that is bound over generally proceeds to Oakland County Circuit Court.
It may support, contradict or add context to reports and witness accounts. Its importance depends on what it shows and which issues are disputed.
Prompt review may help preserve evidence and prepare for court, bond and testing obligations. The need for immediate action depends on the facts and deadlines.
If you are facing an OWI, assault, domestic-violence allegation, drug charge, theft offense, probation violation, warrant or criminal investigation in Bloomfield Township, Fraiberg & Pernie can explain the accusation, court process and available options.
The firm offers:
Evidence-focused case review
Direct attorney communication
48th District Court and Oakland County experience
Former-prosecutor and former-police insight
Misdemeanor, felony and OWI defense
Call (248) 986-2682 to request a confidential consultation.
Matthew Fraiberg is a Michigan criminal-defense and OWI attorney who has practiced law since 1997. He is a former city prosecutor, former judicial clerk and former assistant legal research clerk who worked with Oakland County Circuit Court judges. His practice includes felony and misdemeanor defense, OWI, warrants, probation violations and criminal traffic matters.
Eric L. Pernie is a Michigan criminal-defense attorney and former Bloomfield Township police officer. His law-enforcement background provides firsthand knowledge of traffic stops, arrests, police reports, body-camera evidence, evidence collection and investigative procedures.
Together, the attorneys at Fraiberg & Pernie combine extensive courtroom experience with former-law-enforcement insight when evaluating Michigan criminal cases.
Written and legally reviewed by: Matthew Fraiberg
Last reviewed and updated: September 2026
This page provides general legal information and does not constitute legal advice. Viewing this page or contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee or predict future outcomes.
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Fraiberg & Pernie is an Oakland County criminal defense law firm focusing on DUI and OWI defense in Birmingham, Troy, Royal Oak, Bloomfield Hills, Novi and Farmington Hills, Michigan.