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Recent Blog Posts
Man Charged After Being Found With 75 Pounds of Marijuana
A man in Cook County is facingfelony drug charges after being found with more than 75 pounds of marijuana, according to NBC Chicago. The Chicago Police department was responding to reports that there was a burglary in progress.
While investigating the premises of the alleged burglary, the police found a basement door that bore signs of forced entry. The officers proceeded inside the door and found 34,000 grams of marijuana. More than 120 grams of cannabis oil was also discovered.
The man who was renting the building where the marijuana and cannabis oil was found is now facing two felony charges. He has been charged with two felony counts of manufacturing or delivering over 5,000 grams of marijuana, or cannabis. In addition to these two felony charges, he also faces a misdemeanor charge as a result of being found to be allegedly violating the concealed carry act.
What You Should Know About Underage Drinking in Illinois
Illinois is not the only state that has strict laws regarding underage drinking. In Illinois, it is illegal for a person under the age of 21 to drink or possess alcohol. Even so, there are many individuals under the age of 21 that decide to drink alcoholic beverages.
Being charged with underage drinking can be detrimental to a minor’s future. Consider the following informationthat you should know about underage drinking in Illinois.
An Underage Drinking Charge is Considered a Class a Misdemeanor in Illinois
For anyone under the age of 21, it is illegal to possess or consume alcohol. Being found to have any amount of alcohol in your system as a minor can result in a Class A misdemeanor charge. It is also illegal for minors to transport open alcohol containers in their vehicles. This carries the potential of up to one year in jail and a maximum fine of $2,500.
The Impact of a Criminal Conviction
When watching television cop shows, it seems like everyone in the world has been convicted or charged with some type of crime, even if by accident or mistake. These television shows attempt to take you through the criminal process of beingcharged with a crime and the sentence that can be imposed should you be found guilty. While there is a large amount of coverage dedicated to the crime itself and the sentence, there is not often any discussion on what the impact of a criminal charge can be on one’s life. The impact of a criminal conviction is far reaching and impacts more areas of life than one might think.
Employment
Many people who have ever filled out a job application know that one of the questions asked during the hiring process is whether or not an individual has been convicted of a crime. While there are laws in place to protect some ex-criminals from being discriminated against, there are plenty of employment opportunities lost because of a criminal conviction. There are certain jobs that require an applicant to have a background that does not contain a criminal conviction. If you have been convicted of a crime, do not lie about it. Many employers will run a criminal background check on prospective employees to make sure that they did not lie about their history and ensure they are a good fit for the company.
Accessing Police Records in Cook County
There are a number of reasonswhy a person might want access tohis or her police records.He or she maywant to make sure any criminal charges are accurately depicted, orhe or she maywant to make sure that a certain charge or conviction is no longer listed onhis or her record. Whatever the reason, in Cook County a person has the ability to accesshis or her police reports.
The Uniform Conviction Information Act passed in 1991 requires that a person’s criminal record and conviction information must be made public. This act was passed in an attempt at full transparency and to give those that needed this information the avenue and opportunity to seek the information that they required. An individual’s criminal record will contain arrests, convictions, and other data about contact that the person has had with the Illinois criminal system.
How to Fight a Burglary Charge in Illinois
Facing anycriminal charge can be alarming and frightening. Most crimes are made up of different elements, levels, and a number of other factors that can be confusing. Burglary is no exception. In Illinois, there is more than one type of burglary. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the alleged crime, a defendant could be charged with a Class 1 felony, which is the most severe type of felony possible for a burglary charge. Since a charge can be so serious, it is imperative to have an attorney who can provide the best defense possible. There are many strategies and defenses that can be employed to fight a burglary charge, as described in detail below.
You Have an Alibi
One of the strongest defenses to burglary available is that you simply were not around to do it. Being able to prove your whereabouts, beyond just you saying you were not there to commit the crime, is a strong device. In order to establish an alibi, any number of things can be proved to show the defendant was doing something else at the time of the crime— video tape, cell phone records, credit card receipts, or even witness testimony.
When Do Drug Charges Become a Federal Offense?
Both federal and state laws and regulations govern the use, possession, distributing, and manufacturing of drugs. Illinois has a set of drug laws, but so does the federal government. There is a big difference between being charged with a statedrug charge and a federal drug charge. Therefore, it is important to know when a drug charge could become a federal charge. Each case is unique and has its own circumstances and issues, but there are different factors at play that could elevate a state drug charge to a federal one.
Factors to Consider
The following describes a number of factors to consider that may affect a drug charge:
- The arresting officer– Oneof the biggest clues involves who is making the arrest. Being arrested by a federal agent is a huge sign that you will be charged with a federal crime. Sometimes local law enforcement, or state police, will ask federal agents to aid in their case. Often, state and federal officers will work together to conduct a sting to catch criminals.
Famous Singer Arrested for Felony Battery
Many people know the violent history of Chris Brown. With a prior domestic violence issue already on his record, the singer Chris Brown was arrested andcharged with felony battery, according to CBS News. The domestic violence incident previously mentioned resulted in a felony conviction of assault. These are not isolated incidents, however. Several other charges over the years have been brought against Brown for varying degrees of assault and battery.
Ultimately, anyone facing charges for felony battery is encouraged to learn more about this crime. In addition, representation by a skilled attorney can also ensure that their rights are protected throughout each step of the case.
Illinois Battery Law
In Illinois, a person commits a battery whenhe or she “knowingly without legal justification by any means (1) causes bodily harm to an individual or (2) makes physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature with an individual.” Essentially, any physical touching that causes harm to another could be considered a battery.
Three Things to Keep in Mind When Dealing With Traffic Tickets in Cook County
No one likes receiving atraffic ticket. Seeing the red and blue lights in your rear-view mirror is likely not what you hope for when out on the road. Traffic tickets become a burdento those receiving them as they try to deal with the consequences anddeterminethe next stepsto take. No matterthe inconvenience or the burden that is felt, traffic tickets cannot be ignored.
Traffic Tickets Affect Your Insurance Rates
While it is true that there are traffic offenses that require paying a small fine and nothing more, this is not the case in every instance. The consequences of a traffic ticket can affect a person’s life even after paying the fine. Auto insurance rates are usually calculated by taking into consideration a person’s driving history. Traffic tickets and offenses increase the rates of your auto insurance that is required to drive in Illinois.
Violating Probation Can Land You in Jail
In criminal cases involving jail or prison time, there is often a high probability that upon release from incarceration, an individual will be placed on probation. Probation requires a person to follow strict rules and guidelines on howhe or she should conducthimself or herself ashe or she transitions back to the real world.
As of this writing, an Illinois man is on his way to jail after violating probation. The man pled guilty to committing a string of burglaries and burning a vehicle. He pled guilty to two counts of burglary and one count of arson, according to the Daily News. As a result of this guilty plea, the man was placed on probation. One of the conditions of his probation was that he was not to get arrested for any additional crimes or offenses. He did not meet this condition. The man was arrested for two charges: possession of a knife and unlawful display of a title with a prior conviction. Both of these charges are considered Class A misdemeanors.
My Child Was in the Car During a DUI Arrest. Now What?
For most parents, their children’s safety is a top priority in their life. Even with the best of intentions, parents can make mistakes that put their own safety and their children’s at risk. For some Illinois parents, a child might face a greater risk of injury because of an adultdriving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. When this happens, a parent might have more to worry about than a pending driving under the influence (DUI) charge. There can be greater consequences for a DUI charge when there is a minor child present in the vehicle.
DUI Law in Illinois
In Illinois, a driver can be charged with a DUI if they are operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or more. A DUI charge brings the risk of potential jail time, fines, court costs, probation, or even court-mandated alcohol treatment. When a driver is charged with a DUI when their child is in the car, child endangerment laws also come into consideration. In Illinois, child endangerment results any time that a minor’s welfare is put in harm’s way because of the reckless behavior of a parent or guardian. In the most extreme cases involving child endangerment, a parent or guardian could even havehis or her parental rights terminated because of the endangerment.
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