FRAIBERG & PERNIE
If you have been arrested, charged with a crime, contacted by law enforcement, served with a warrant or learned that you are under criminal investigation, protect yourself by remaining silent, preserving potential evidence, following all bond and court conditions and speaking with a criminal-defense attorney promptly.
A criminal charge is an allegation—not a conviction. The prosecution must prove every required element of the offense. Early preparation may help preserve evidence, prevent avoidable mistakes and identify defenses before important opportunities are lost.
Call 248-986-2682 to request a confidential consultation with Fraiberg & Pernie.
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Law Firm | Fraiberg & Pernie |
| Attorneys | Matthew Fraiberg and Eric L. Pernie |
| Attorney Background | Former city prosecutor, former judicial clerk and former police officer |
| Practice Focus | Criminal defense, OWI and DUI, felony and misdemeanor charges, domestic violence, assault, drug crimes, theft, probation violations, warrants and criminal traffic offenses |
| Office Locations | Birmingham and Oak Park, Michigan |
| Primary Service Area | Oakland, Wayne and Macomb Counties, with representation in other Michigan courts depending on the matter |
| Phone | 248-986-2682 |
Fraiberg & Pernie represents people accused of criminal and serious driving offenses throughout Southeast Michigan. The firm examines what happened, what the government can prove, whether the investigation was lawful and how the allegations may affect the client beyond the courtroom.
No two cases are identical. The appropriate defense depends on the charge, available evidence, court, prior record and individual circumstances.
Matthew Fraiberg is the managing partner of Fraiberg & Pernie. Licensed in Michigan since 1997, he has more than 29 years of legal experience.
His professional background includes service as:
A former city prosecutor
A former judicial clerk
A former assistant legal research clerk working with Oakland County Circuit Court judges
Matthew has handled thousands of criminal, OWI, DUI and driver’s-license matters. His approach begins with a basic question:
“What does the evidence actually prove?”
Eric L. Pernie is a Michigan criminal-defense attorney, co-founder of Fraiberg & Pernie and former police officer.
His law-enforcement experience provides practical insight into traffic stops, arrests, police reports, search-and-seizure issues, body-camera evidence, field-sobriety procedures and evidence collection.
Together, Matthew and Eric bring former-prosecutor, judicial and law-enforcement experience to the defense of people accused of crimes in Michigan.
Fraiberg & Pernie represents clients charged under Michigan’s operating-while-intoxicated law, MCL 257.625, including:
First-offense OWI
Second-offense OWI
Third-offense felony OWI
Drugged-driving allegations
Operating While Visibly Impaired
Breath- and blood-testing cases
Driver’s-license consequences
The firm handles matters involving assault, domestic violence, drug offenses, weapons allegations, theft, retail fraud, property crimes, probation violations and criminal traffic offenses.
Learn more about Michigan felony defense and Michigan misdemeanor defense.
Drug cases may involve possession, delivery, prescription-related offenses, controlled-substance allegations or drugged driving.
Learn more about Michigan drug-crime defense.
Probation-violation allegations may involve positive or missed tests, failure to report, new criminal allegations, no-contact violations, unauthorized travel or failure to complete a required program.
Learn more about Michigan probation-violation defense.
A criminal case may begin with:
Police may make an arrest after a traffic stop, investigation or reported incident.
A prosecutor may authorize charges and request a warrant before the accused person is taken into custody.
Detectives may collect statements, digital records, video or physical evidence before seeking charges.
This commonly occurs in domestic-violence, assault, theft and property cases.
Traffic stops may lead to allegations involving OWI, controlled substances, weapons, warrants or suspended driving privileges.
How a case begins may affect the evidence available and the legal issues that should be investigated.
Depending on the case, the attorneys may examine:
Police reports
Body-camera and dash-camera recordings
Witness statements
Photographs and video
Text messages and digital evidence
Physical evidence
Laboratory and testing records
The accusation is only the starting point. The evidence must be examined independently.
Important questions may include:
Was the stop supported by lawful grounds?
Was the search constitutional?
Was the arrest supported by probable cause?
Were statements obtained lawfully?
Was a warrant valid and properly executed?
Were the accused person’s constitutional rights respected?
Potential consequences may include jail or prison, probation, fines, driver’s-license sanctions, firearm restrictions, immigration consequences, professional-licensing issues and employment consequences.
A defense may involve challenging the evidence, investigating witness credibility, examining police procedure, contesting scientific evidence, filing appropriate motions, negotiating with the prosecution or preparing for trial.
Clients should understand what will happen, what is expected of them and what decisions may need to be made. Careful preparation matters whether a case is resolved through dismissal, negotiation, a statutory program or trial.
At arraignment, the court advises the accused person of the charge and addresses bond. Conditions may include testing, travel restrictions, no-contact provisions, GPS monitoring or other requirements.
The defense obtains and analyzes available discovery, investigates relevant facts, evaluates defenses and discusses possible resolutions.
When supported by the facts and law, the defense may challenge stops, searches, statements, warrants, identification procedures, scientific evidence or other evidence offered by the prosecution.
Depending on the case, possible resolutions may include dismissal, charge reduction, a diversion or deferral program, a negotiated plea or trial. No outcome can be promised, and each case must be assessed individually.
For general information about Michigan courts and court procedure, visit the Michigan Judicial Branch.
Sometimes. A reduction or dismissal may become possible when the evidence, law or circumstances support it.
Relevant issues may include:
Insufficient evidence
An unlawful search or seizure
Improperly obtained statements
Problems with witness credibility
Missing or inconsistent evidence
Defects in scientific testing
Eligibility for a diversion or deferred-sentencing program
Every case is different. Prior outcomes do not guarantee what will happen in another matter. Review selected Michigan criminal-defense case results for examples of matters handled by the firm.
A criminal case may affect more than the sentence imposed by a judge. Possible collateral consequences include:
Employment difficulties
Professional-licensing concerns
Housing problems
Security-clearance issues
Immigration consequences
Educational limitations
Firearm restrictions
Driver’s-license sanctions
Damage to a person’s reputation
The defense strategy should account for the client’s priorities and long-term concerns whenever possible.
Fraiberg & Pernie regularly handles matters in district and circuit courts throughout Southeast Michigan, including:
43rd District Court — Ferndale
44th District Court — Royal Oak and Berkley
46th District Court — Southfield
47th District Court — Farmington Hills
48th District Court — Bloomfield Hills
50th District Court — Pontiac
51st District Court — Waterford
52-1 District Court — Novi
52-2 District Court — Clarkston
52-3 District Court — Rochester Hills
52-4 District Court — Troy
Oakland County Circuit Court
16th District Court — Livonia
17th District Court — Redford
18th District Court — Westland
34th District Court — Romulus
35th District Court — Plymouth, Canton and Northville
36th District Court — Detroit
Wayne County Circuit Court
37th District Court — Warren and Center Line
39th District Court — Roseville and Fraser
41A District Court
41B District Court
Macomb County Circuit Court
Local procedure matters, but the defense must be based on the actual charge, evidence, judge, prosecutor and circumstances—not unsupported assumptions about a court.
You generally have the right to remain silent and request an attorney. A person under investigation should consider obtaining legal advice before answering questions about the alleged offense.
Yes, in some cases. Dismissal may result from insufficient evidence, a successful legal challenge, witness problems or another issue. No dismissal can be guaranteed.
Not necessarily. Possible incarceration depends on the charge, facts, prior record, applicable law, court and outcome of the case.
The court advises the accused person of the charge and addresses bond and release conditions.
The court may issue a warrant or take other action. Contact your attorney and the court promptly rather than ignoring the missed appearance.
That depends on the bond conditions imposed by the court. Review the written order and obtain legal advice before traveling.
The timeline depends on the charge, amount of evidence, motion practice, negotiations, court schedule and whether the case proceeds to trial.
Prompt legal advice may help preserve evidence, address bond conditions and prevent avoidable mistakes. A person may consult an attorney before formal charges are issued.
Clients choose Fraiberg & Pernie because the firm provides:
Former-prosecutor and former-police-officer perspectives
Evidence-focused defense preparation
Courtroom experience
Direct attorney communication
Plain-English explanations
Strategies tailored to the individual case
The objective is to protect the client’s rights and pursue the best available outcome based on the facts and law. No ethical attorney can guarantee a particular result.
If you have been arrested, charged with a crime, contacted by investigators or learned that you are under investigation, Fraiberg & Pernie can help you understand the allegations, court process and available options.
The firm serves clients through offices in Birmingham and Oak Park, Michigan, with a primary focus on Oakland, Wayne and Macomb Counties.
Call 248-986-2682 to request a confidential consultation.
Written and reviewed by: Matthew Fraiberg
Michigan criminal-defense and OWI attorney
Licensed in Michigan since 1997
Former city prosecutor and former judicial clerk
Last reviewed: September 2026
Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only 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.