Posted on June 26,2019 in Traffic Violations

If you receive a traffic ticket while driving in the state of Illinois, the police officer who issued the ticket will tell you if you are required to appear in court to settle the ticket. If you are not required to appear in court, you will have three options:

1. Plead guilty, pay the fine, and receive a conviction on your record.
2. Plead guilty, pay the fine, attend traffic safety school, and forego a conviction.
3. Plead not guilty and request a trial.

If you request a trial, or if the officer informed you that you must attend a court date, you are legally required to do so. If you forget about your court date, or if you simply decide not to show up, you could face more severe consequences.

Consequences for Fine-Only Violations

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 Posted on June 18,2019 in Sex Crimes

Being accused of a sex crime can greatly impact your life, regardless of the charge. Even if you are not convicted of the alleged charge, your criminal record is public information, and arrests or accusations can appear on a background check. A sex crime conviction can bring about many undesired consequences. Not only can you be sentenced to prison or probation or be ordered to pay steep fines, you will also face the judgment of the public and experience negative effects on your personal life and relationships, and you may even be required to register as a sex offender.

In the state of Illinois, the two major sex crimes are criminal sexual assault and criminal sexual abuse. Though they are similar crimes, they have different consequences.

Sexual Assault and Aggravated Sexual Assault

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 Posted on June 11,2019 in Drug Crimes

Less than two weeks ago, the state of Illinois became the 11th state to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. Beginning in 2020, residents will be permitted to legally possess cannabis. However, there are restrictions on the amount, and cannabis trafficking will still be illegal unless you are licensed.

In light of this legalization, an Illinois man was recently sentenced to prison for purchasing 42 pounds of marijuana-infused chocolate online. The man was sentenced to four years in prison for the Class X felony of possessing more than 5,000 grams of a substance containing cannabis.

Man Ordered Chocolate From California

Police first became aware of the situation described above when postal workers reported they noticed several suspicious packages being delivered to the man’s house. After police obtained a search warrant, they opened one of the packages and found more than 19,000 grams of chocolate infused with THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Police then obtained a warrant to search the man’s house and found cocaine, more marijuana, a digital scale, more than $2,000 in cash, and receipts for packages he had mailed across the United States and Canada.

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 Posted on June 04,2019 in Drug Crimes

For decades, recreational marijuana use has been illegal in most of the United States. In recent years, more states have legalized the use of recreational cannabis. Illinois became the latest state to legalize the use of marijuana for adults on May 31, 2019. This comes as a surprise to many, because Illinois is the first state to approve a recreational marijuana bill through the legislature rather than a voter referendum. This means big legal changes could be coming for people who face or have faced criminal charges relating to cannabis.

Illinois Makes History

The passing of this Illinois bill is monumental for the United States. No other state has passed laws to allow legal commercial sales of marijuana through the legislature. Vermont legislature allowed for the recreational possession of marijuana, but not sales, which were passed through a referendum. Recreational marijuana will be treated and taxed similarly to alcohol, in that only those who are over the age of 21 are permitted to purchase or use it.

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 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:

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 Posted on May 23,2019 in DUI

For many people, Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start to summer. Some people celebrate with picnics and barbecues, while others head to the lake for time on the water. In many cases, people enjoy drinking alcohol while enjoying these activities. However, what many people do not realize is that Illinois treats alcohol and boating very similar to the way it treats alcohol and driving. If you are convicted of boating while under the influence (BUI) of alcohol or drugs, you could face serious consequences, similar to driving under the influence (DUI) charges.

What Is a BUI?

The Illinois Boat Registration and Safety Act states that it is illegal to operate a boat while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. A person is considered to be boating under the influence if he or she is in actual physical control of watercraft and one or more of the following apply:

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 Posted on May 16,2019 in Criminal Law

There are a number of things that can cause a police officer to pull you over. Maybe your tail light was out, you did not use your turn signal, or you ran a red light. A police officer will likely pull you over for such violations. In some situations, an officer may request to search your vehicle. While the aforementioned violations could constitute a legal traffic stop, is it legal if the officer requests to search your vehicle? Technically, there are certain circumstances in which a police officer can search your vehicle without a warrant.

Police Searches of Vehicles

The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution states U.S. citizens have the right to “be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures.” This means police cannot search your property for no reason. There are only a handful of situations in which a police officer can legally search your car without a search warrant.

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 Posted on May 08,2019 in Sex Crimes

Some of the most serious and damaging crimes a person can be accused of are sex crimes. Sex crimes are taken very seriously by law enforcement and the courts. Convictions for certain sex crimes in Illinois require registration as a sex offender, which brings with it numerous restrictions and requirements. If you have been charged with a sex crime, it is imperative that you understand the ramifications a conviction could bring, and that you secure experienced legal representation immediately.

Who Must Register as a Sex Offender?

According to the Illinois Sex Offender Registration Act, individuals convicted of a sex crime, found not guilty by reason of insanity, the subject of a finding not resulting in an acquittal, or adjudicated as being sexually dangerous or violent, are required to register as a sex offender. Common offenses that require sex offender registration include:

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 Posted on April 24,2019 in DUI and Breath Alcohol Tests

One of the most common criminal charges in the United States is a DUI. Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have shown that 11,000 deaths resulting from traffic accidents also involved an alcohol-impaired driver. In Illinois alone, more than 400 deaths occur each year from drunk driving. Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is dangerous, and the punishment for doing so can be severe. Most DUI situations involve misdemeanor charges, but those charges can quickly escalate to felony charges under certain circumstances.

First-Offense DUI Penalties

Under Illinois law, a first offense for a DUI is classified as a Class A misdemeanor, the highest classification for a misdemeanor. If a person is convicted of DUI and has no prior DUI charges, he or she will still face up to one year in jail, up to $2,500 in fines and up to two years of probation. Additionally, a first-time DUI offender may also be subject to mandatory minimum penalties and community service.

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 Posted on April 18,2019 in Criminal Law

In the United States, violent crime is not uncommon. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, there were more than 1.2 million violent crimes reported in the country in 2017. In Illinois alone, there were an estimated 56,000 incidences of violent crime that year. The state of Illinois defines violent crime as any felony crime that involves the use of force or the threat of force against the victim, or any misdemeanor crime in which death or great bodily harm comes to the victim.

Violent crime is taken extremely seriously and penalties for a conviction are severe. If you are charged with a violent crime, it is important you understand the potential consequences, and that you speak with a skilled criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.

Types of Violent Crime

In Illinois, there are numerous offenses that fall into the category of violent crimes. Here are the most common violent crimes in Illinois and the consequences for committing them:

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