- Michigan
L’Tonya Marie Payne, a 51-year-old black woman, is facing misdemeanor assault charges following an altercation. The complaining witness, who is white, stated the police would not believe Ms. Payne due to her skin color. Attorney Vince Manzella is working alongside Ms. Payne to fight these allegations, as she was arrested simply on the basis of the witness’s word.
Joseph Wolf, former director of the Detroit Stars, was sentenced to two years of supervised probation. Wolf pleaded guilty to embezzling funds from the nonprofit youth baseball league. Typically, the felony count can result in up to 10 years in prison, a fine of $15,000, and other charges, but Lucido & Manzella, P.C. was able to help the client receive a reduced sentence.
Charles Frontera, a former Roseville city councilman, was sentenced to a year of probation after a misdemeanor charge was dismissed at sentencing. During a pretrial conference, Mr. Frontera pleaded guilty to substance possession, and in doing so, Attorney Manzella was able to protect the client from severe charges.
William Weber, owner of Weber Security Group Inc., was accused by former Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith of falsifying an invoice that allegedly confirmed the installation of a security system at Smith’s home. Despite the case’s complexity, Lucido & Manzella, P.C. successfully defended Mr. Weber against four felonies, which included larceny by conversion, forgery, aiding and abetting, and concealing stolen property.
Manslaughter charges against three men who were initially charged in the death of 24-year old Kenneth Klingler were rescinded. The men were accused of beating the victim to death in a physical altercation, but investigators determined that the victim passed away from head injuries caused by a vehicle impact. A video was released showing that Klingler survived the altercation and walked into a busy street, where he was struck by a vehicle. Despite how “bizarre” the case was, Lucido & Manzella, P.C. successfully proved the defendants’ innocence.