A police search without a warrant is illegal without consent. It is unlawful for a police officer to enter a person’s home or vehicle without a warrant, without consent, or without an exigent circumstance, such as seeing through a window or hearing domestic violence within the house. Additionally, it is…
Chicago Criminal Lawyer Blog
Illinois Court Sentences Passed-Out Driver to Eight Years in Prison
“Drunk driving” does not always mean operating a car on the open road while intoxicated. Under Illinois law, a person may be found guilty of driving under the influence if he or she is in “actual physical control” of a vehicle, even if the car is parked and not moving.…
New Law on Texting and Driving Now in Effect in Illinois
The Chicago Tribune recently published a report on the new Illinois laws that went into effect starting January 1, 2019. In all, more than 250 pieces of legislation are now on the books, ranging from gun control to sexual harassment to synthetic marijuana. One particular law will affect anyone with…
Harsher Penalties for Wrong-Way DUI Crashes in 2019
Though more than 250 laws went into effect on January 1, 2019, one in particular will affect all Illinois drivers. The Secretary of State’s Office announced in its “Illinois DUI Fact Book 2019” that driving the wrong way on any roadway is now an aggravated factor in sentencing for a…
What is a Sex Offender Registry?
If you have been arrested after being charged with a sex crime, your life may never be the same. In society, the opinion of sex crimes, particularly those committed against children, is very strong and very negative. Law enforcement has a similar attitude when in pursuit of or apprehending someone…
Defending Against Drug Possession and Distribution Charges
Though the number of drug arrests in Chicago is down, drug crimes in Chicago are still a serious problem. The fight against drug possession charges is a difficult one if police find enough evidence to support their claim. But an additional charge of intent to distribute is typically attached when…
How to Defend Yourself Against Entrapment
A Chicago woman was arrested at a Plainfield massage parlor, where she was an employee, for offering to perform sex acts on undercover police officers for money. 47-year-old Yinyan Gao was employed by Plainfield Massage. The Will County Cooperative Police Assistance Team investigated the business after being informed of several…
The Different Forms of Criminal Homicide
A Chicago resident was charged with killing his mother on Christmas Eve. A representative from the Chicago Police Department stated 25-year-old Robert Wallace allegedly left the body 67-year-old Betty Wallace in a garbage can a short distance from her home on the far south side of the city. Employees of…
What to Expect When Authorities Respond to a Domestic Violence Call
The 2017 Annual Report released by the Illinois Courts showed 2,790 new domestic related cases in the state. Contrary to popular misconceptions about domestic violence, the laws in Illinois that govern this crime reach much further than abusive spouses. Illinois statute 750 ILCS 60 addresses domestic violence and defines it…
Categories of White Collar Crimes
To better protect consumers and business owners, courts have been punishing those who commit white collar crimes more severely. After the banking system in the United States nearly collapsed, the prosecution of Bernie Madoff, Martha Stewart, Enron executives, and many other high-profile cases took center stage. Many executives of large…