Understanding Obstruction of Justice Charges in Illinois

 Posted on May 31, 2019 in Criminal Law

In Illinois, there are a few crimes that police officers take very seriously. One of those crimes is obstruction of justice. Obstruction of justice can be something as simple as providing a police officer with a false name or as serious as directly lying to a police officer about something he or she is questioning you about. No matter the act caused you to be charged with obstruction of justice, this crime is a felony in Illinois and can result in serious consequences that could follow you for the rest of your life. When facing these charges, it is best to consult with a criminal defense lawyer who has experience in obstruction of justice charges so you can plan an appropriate defense.

What Is Obstruction of Justice?

According to the Illinois Criminal Code of 2012, obstruction of justice occurs when a person intentionally prevents the apprehension or obstructs the prosecution or defense of a person and knowingly:

• Alters, disguises, conceals or destroys physical evidence, plants false evidence, or provides false information;

• Persuades a witness who has information on an issue to leave the state or hide him or herself;

• Possesses knowledge of a certain issue and leaves the state or conceals him or herself; or

• Reports false information to a medical examiner, law enforcement agency, coroner, or other government agency about a child in his or her care who is under the age of 13 during the investigation into the child’s disappearance or death

Penalties for an Obstruction of Justice Conviction

If you are convicted of obstructing justice, you can be charged with a Class 4 felony. This means that you could face one to three years in prison, an extended prison sentence of three to six years in prison, a 30-month probationary period, and/or up to $25,000 in fines.

Not all obstruction of justice charges are considered a Class 4 felony. If the court has determined that obstruction of justice is related to a crime that furthered gang-related activity, you can be charged with a Class 3 felony. This means you will face two to five years in prison, an extended prison sentence of five to 10 years, a 30-month probationary period, and/or up to $25,000 in fines.

Contact an Arlington Heights, IL Criminal Defense Lawyer

Being charged with any type of crime can be a scary experience, and law enforcement officials do not take kindly to those who are accused of obstruction of justice. If you are facing charges for obstructing justice, you need help from a knowledgeable Rolling Meadows criminal defense lawyer. Scott F. Anderson, Attorney at Law has been defending clients for nearly 20 years, and he can help you fight for your freedom. Call our office today at 847-253-3400 to schedule your free consultation.  

Sources:

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=072000050K31-4 

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs5.asp?ActID=1999&ChapterID=55