Posted on September 09, 2020 in Drug Offenses

Facing a drunk driving charge can bring serious legal penalties against an Illinois driver. It can result in expensive fines, loss of driving privileges and even the potential for time behind bars. A person who is facing charges of drugged driving will also face the same penalties, but the way law enforcement can enforce this and test for drugs is still a little murky.

At the beginning of this year, new laws went into effect in Illinois regarding having marijuana in a vehicle. However, it is still illegal for drivers to operate a vehicle while under the influence of marijuana. Tests that measure the amount of THC in a driver's system are still not completely accurate, and there is no single, standard, reliable way to test at a roadside traffic stop.

Handling drugged driving

According to new laws, drivers are able to have marijuana in their vehicles, but they cannot consume it while driving. It is also illegal for a passenger to smoke marijuana while in the vehicle. When transporting marijuana, it must be inside a specific type of child-proof container. If a law enforcement officer pulls a driver over, things such as slow response time, red eyes and drowsiness could indicate drugged driving, and the officer may then ask the driver to submit to certain sobriety tests.

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 Posted on August 07, 2020 in Sex Offenses

One of the most common and prohibitive penalties that come with a conviction of some sexual criminal offenses is compelled registration as a sex offender. For certain individuals, a conviction will bring the requirement of registering with the appropriate parties and updating that registration over time as needed. One Illinois man recently failed to update his registration, and he is now facing an extensive prison sentence as a result.

His registration requirement comes as a result of two previous convictions for sexual assault. One of his sexual assault convictions was for the assault of a minor, resulting in his obligation to register as a sex offender. At the time he failed to update his registration status, he was already under supervised released because of an unrelated drug conviction from 2006.

As a result of failing to update his registration, he was sentenced to 30 months in a federal prison facility and an additional 24 months in a federal supervised release program. After he is eventually released from prison, the Illinois man will be under supervision for 10 years. He will begin serving his sentence immediately after the one he is currently serving is complete.

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 Posted on July 01, 2020 in Sex Offenses

Facing criminal charges is a serious threat to an Illinois defendant's future, especially if that individual is charged with sex crimes. The stigma that comes with these allegations can have a significant impact on an individual's life, even if found not guilty. Those facing charges of sexual crimes would be wise to know their rights and how to protect their interests.

The penalties for a conviction of a sexual crime can include much more than the potential for time behind bars. It can lead to a loss of reputation, loss of future job opportunities, expulsion from educational programs and more. There may also be a requirement to register as a sex offender, which in turn impacts the job application process and housing options. It can have a detrimental effect for years to come.

An individual facing charges or the requirement to register as a sex offender can face various legal challenges going forward. Because of this, it is critical to have experienced guidance at every step, starting from the first hint of a criminal investigation. An Illinois defense attorney can help fight for favorable results or assist in post-conviction matters.

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 Posted on June 03, 2020 in Opiate Offenses

If convicted of drug charges, it will bring serious impacts that will affect a defendant well into the future. With the growing popularity of opiate use in Illinois, the number of opiate-related charges is growing. Opiates or opioids are drugs derived from a specific plant, and they include prescription drugs such as morphine, methadone, fentanyl and oxycodone. Improper use or sale of these drugs can result in serious penalties.

Patients who go through surgery or another serious medical event are often prescribed opiates as a painkiller option, such as Vicodin or OxyContin. For some, this can lead to a dependency on these medications. After a time, those who are dependent may look to nonmedical sources for drugs. What started as a medical need can lead to criminal charges with the potential to alter the entire trajectory of a life.

This is why it is important to seek experienced defense counsel for these types of drug charges. With the right help, it is possible to effectively confront these charges and preserve future interests. An individual in Illinois convicted of the misuse of prescription drugs could face time behind bars, loss of educational opportunities, fines, loss of personal reputation and much more.

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 Posted on April 09, 2020 in Opiate Offenses

You've been in pain for a long time. You went through a surgery around 10 years ago, and ever since then, you've had chronic pain that hasn't let up. Your first interaction with opioid pain medications was after that surgery.

Your medical provider, at the time, told you that these drugs were completely safe. You were encouraged to fill your prescription on time and to ask for refills. As you found that your pain was not being treated as well over time, your doctor increased your dosage.

Today, in 2020, it's known that opioid medications can lead to tolerances, dependency and addiction. That came to light over time, but it was too late for you. At that point, you'd taken the pain medications for years, and you were left in a bind when the prescriber suddenly couldn't fill your prescriptions. You turned to illegal sources to obtain the medications you needed to handle your pain.

Unfortunately, even those with chronic pain and the best intentions can be charged for drug crimes. Physicians may be at fault for over-prescribing opiates, and it's true that pharmaceutical companies weren't as forthcoming as they should have been about addiction or dependency involving these drugs. Nevertheless, you're the one who is now facing drug charges.

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 Posted on March 13, 2020 in Sex Offenses

According to news sources, rap mogul R. Kelly entered not guilty pleas to 13 felony counts in a new superseding indictment in federal court in Illinois on March 5. The indictment, which was unsealed in February, included a felony count for a new alleged victim.

During the hearing, prosecutors told the court that another superseding indictment would likely be filed within the upcoming weeks to add another alleged victim. Kelly's trial, which had been scheduled for April 27, was rescheduled for Oct. 13 upon a defense request. The defense attorneys said that they could not be prepared for trial by April 27 because of the addition of the new alleged victim.

Kelly is facing charges of sexually abusing numerous women when they were minors. He is also accused of filming himself having sex with the girls and running a racketeering scheme to procure minors. Kelly has consistently denied the sexual abuse allegations against him. In 2008, he was found not guilty following a trial on similar charges. In addition to the federal charges in Illinois, he is also facing charges in New York and Minnesota.

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 Posted on February 28, 2020 in Sex Offenses

Three Illinois men were taken into custody on Feb. 21 on charges including child sex trafficking and producing child pornography. The investigation into the men's alleged activities was launched in June 2019 by the Bloomington Police Department. The BPD's Criminal Investigation Division was assisted during the investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The arrests were made after a federal grand jury handed down multiple indictments on Feb. 17. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of Illinois.

A 20-year-old Bloomington man faces three child sex trafficking counts in connection with activities he was allegedly involved in between 2017 and 2019. He waived his right to a detention hearing and is being held by the U.S. Marshals Service. A 26-year-old Normal man is accused of child sex trafficking and producing child pornography in 2018 and 2019. He appeared in court for a detention hearing on Feb. 27. A 24-year-old Normal man also declined a detention hearing and is being held on multiple child sex trafficking and producing child pornography charges for acts that he allegedly committed in 2019.

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 Posted on February 12, 2020 in Sex Offenses

On Jan. 31, an Illinois woman was sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually assaulting two teenage boys. She will also be placed under two years of mandatory monitoring after her release and will have to register as a sex offender for the remainder of her life.

According to media reports, the defendant, a 31-year-old resident of Geneva, was formerly employed as a teacher at Carpentersville Middle School. Between July 2013 and May 2015, she reportedly had sex with two different 14-year-old boys who attended the school. She was not their teacher at the time the incidents occurred, but she previously taught and tutored one of the boys. She was additionally accused of giving both of them marijuana.

During the trial, a psychiatrist testified that the defendant has been treated for mental illness since the age of 13. The psychiatrist also said she had been raped in the past and suffered post-traumatic stress disorder as a result. In addition, she has been diagnosed with a long list of mental health conditions, including major depression, bipolar disorder, dissociative identity disorder and borderline personality disorder. Due to these issues, the psychiatrist claimed that the defendant is unable to curb impulsive behaviors. Because criminal sexual assault is a class 1 felony, Illinois state law mandates that the defendant must serve at least 85% of her sentence before she is eligible for parole.

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 Posted on January 17, 2020 in Sex Offenses

A 23-year-old high school coach and former athlete was sentenced to serve 90 days in jail after she entered a guilty plea to engaging in criminal sexual abuse of someone who was more than five years younger than her. The woman will serve a probationary sentence until Dec. 20, 2021.

The coach was arrested and charged with a class 1 felony in August 2019. She worked at Washington Community High School in Tazewell County, Illinois, as a freshman girls' basketball and volleyball coach.

The coach is required to register as a sex offender. During her probation, she will also be required to perform community service hours. News sources do not state how many hours of community service she will have to perform. The coach reportedly played college basketball at Eureka College and Illinois Central College.

People who are charged with sex offenses might want to retain experienced criminal defense lawyers as soon as possible. Sex offense convictions can permanently alter the course of people's lives. After the people have discharged their sentences, they might still have to continue registering as sex offenders. They might also struggle to find jobs and housing, and they may have difficulty obtaining credit and loans. An experienced criminal defense lawyer might identify problems with the state's case against the client and work hard to build the strongest possible defense strategy. In some cases, an attorney might secure a favorable plea agreement if the evidence appears to be strong.

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 Posted on January 02, 2020 in Sex Offenses

Illinois residents may be interested in the effect that House Bill 2135, which lawmakers passed over the spring of 2019, will have on the statute of limitations for sexual assault crimes in that state. Removing the statute of limitations may allow prosecutors to prosecute sexual assaults that took place years into the past.

Lawmakers and those involved with crafting the law feel that this sends a clear message showing just how serious the state views sexual assault. Prior to this law, victims had three years to report their attack the law enforcement. Prosecutors had 10 years to file charges against the alleged offender.

House Bill 2135 will remove those limitations, allowing survivors to come forward many years after the attack. This law will apply to aggravated criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse that has been committed against an adult. Another state law passed years ago that removed the statute of limitation for sexual assault crimes against children.

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