Arrested at Movement Festival in Detroit? What Plymouth Residents Need to Know About Hart Plaza Drug Possession Charges

Movement Electronic Music Festival returns to Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit over Memorial Day weekend, drawing tens of thousands of attendees from across Michigan and beyond. With the crowds, the late nights, and the heavy police presence around the riverfront, arrests for drug possession spike every year — and many of those arrests involve Plymouth, Canton, and Wayne County residents who made the drive into the city for the weekend.

If you or someone you love was arrested at Movement on suspicion of possessing MDMA, ecstasy, ketamine, cocaine, or another controlled substance, the legal consequences in Michigan are serious and time-sensitive.

How Michigan Classifies These Drugs

Michigan classifies controlled substances under MCL 333.7212 through 333.7214. MDMA (commonly called ecstasy or molly), ketamine, cocaine, and psilocybin are all Schedule 1 or Schedule 2 substances. Possession of any of these is a felony under MCL 333.7403, with maximum penalties that depend on the substance and the amount. For example, possession of less than 25 grams of a Schedule 1 or 2 narcotic carries up to four years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

Even small personal-use amounts can lead to a felony conviction that affects your career, housing, professional licensing, and ability to travel.

Where Your Case Will Be Heard

Because Hart Plaza is in the City of Detroit, an arrest there typically begins in the 36th District Court in Detroit — not in your home district. That matters. The 36th District is one of the busiest courts in the state, and how you handle the first court date sets the tone for everything that follows. If the charge is a felony, the case will move from district court to Wayne County Circuit Court after a preliminary examination.

What You Should Do Right Now

• Do not discuss the case with anyone other than your attorney.
• Preserve any wristbands, ticket stubs, photos, or witness contact information from the festival.
• Be careful about social media. Posts and check-ins from the weekend can be used against you.
• Get a lawyer involved before your first court date.

Drug cases at large festivals often involve search-and-seizure issues, identification questions, and chain-of-custody challenges with the evidence. A criminal defense attorney who knows how Wayne County prosecutors handle these cases can make a substantial difference in the outcome.

Call Boria Law Today

If you were arrested at Movement Festival or anywhere else over Memorial Day weekend, attorney Aaron J. Boria of Boria Law can help you understand your options and protect your record. Boria Law represents clients throughout Wayne County and the surrounding Metro Detroit area in serious drug possession cases.

Call (734) 453-7806 today for a free consultation.