We have some disturbing news to report from Michigan, where a young attorney was recently charged with attempted home invasion and felony firearm possession after he allegedly broke into the home of his former coworker, another attorney, who was a past love interest.
According to authorities, Levi T. Smith, 34, a 2015 law school graduate who was most recently employed at a small personal injury law firm, reportedly broke into the home in the middle of the night on June 1. Fox News has additional details:
[T]he victim said she woke up to find Smith attempting to enter her home through the side door.
Police said she triggered the panic alarm and was also able to capture Smith on Ring doorbell footage as he was trying to run away from the scene. …
Smith was located by police carrying a backpack that contained a number of “concerning items” including a loaded handgun, a large knife, handcuffs, rope, masks, a hammer, a crowbar, duct tape and latex gloves, and other items.
Karen McDonald, the local prosecutor on the case, expressed her relief that Smith’s target contacted the police. “Without the victim’s call to 911 and the work of the Royal Oak Police, this situation could have been far worse,” she said. Police Chief Michael Moore echoed McDonald’s thoughts, saying, “The quick thinking of the victim to contact police once she realized this dangerous situation was unfolding prevented a much worse outcome.”
Smith reportedly displayed suicidal tendencies while in police custody, and was arraigned on Tuesday. As noted by Fox 2 Detroit, when asked during his hearing if he’d be getting a lawyer, he told the judge, “One hundred percent positive. I’m a lawyer myself.”
Smith faces up to seven years behind bars. His bond was set at $25,000, which he said he was unable to afford. He’s set to appear in court again on June 14.
Michigan attorney breaks into former coworker’s home with bag full of ‘concerning items’: police [Fox News]
Suspect in attempted break-in of woman’s home armed with weapons, rope is Dearborn attorney [Fox 2 Detroit]
Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on X/Twitter and Threads or connect with her on LinkedIn.