The federal Drug Enforcement Administration and local law enforcement agencies here in Illinois and across the country do what they can to keep illegal substances off the streets. They conduct numerous investigations, raids and arrests to that end. In their zeal, the sometimes make mistakes and violate the rights of those they suspect of drug […]
Author: Linda Watson
The lives of several people took an unexpected turn on May 18, 2016 at around 2:10 a.m. That is when a multiple-vehicle accident occurred due to a wrong-way driver. The driver responsible for the crash recently received a sentence of 30 months’ probation after pleading guilty to DUI in an Illinois court. Reports indicated that […]
Addictions take a toll on families, friends and — especially — the individual who suffers from it. In the vast majority of cases, many of those addicted to drugs need help more than they need to be incarcerated for drug crimes. Getting the help they need could require the services of a compassionate Illinois criminal […]
Before conducting a search of an Illinois resident’s home for drugs, drug paraphernalia and other items associated with drugs, police typically must secure a search warrant. In order to do so, they are required to provide probable cause for the search. When the search warrant is issued and executed, those in the home could be arrested […]
Nearly every Illinois resident makes choices that could potentially change the course of life forever. When such a choice results in an allegedly DUI-related crash and criminal charges, the stakes may not ever be higher. This is the time when an aggressive criminal defense could minimize the impact that a tragic mistake could have on […]
Most Illinois residents are aware that they can be charged with driving under the influence or driving while impaired after a traffic stop. However, what if the engine is off and the vehicle is not moving? Can the person sitting behind the wheel still be charged with DUI or DWI? The simple answer is yes. […]
Many people think of cocaine as a party drug. As such, people who use the drug recreationally may not understand how severe the possession of cocaine may be until they are facing criminal charges. In the state of Illinois, the possession of even a small amount of cocaine is a felony offense. The more cocaine […]
These two terms are often used interchangeably, but they differ in fundamental ways. Each of them is considered a property crime, but occur under different circumstances. Understanding the difference between the two impacts the type of criminal defense an Illinois resident accused of either will need. Both robbery and burglary fall under the category of […]
Here in Peoria, it may seem like we are a big city with a real skyline, but for many people, the city is still a surprisingly small community. When a person faces drug charges here, the consequences can be enormous. Unlike nearly all other non-violent criminal charges, a drug charge conviction can carry surprisingly heavy […]
Most Illinois residents understand the danger of getting behind the wheel of a vehicle after drinking. Unfortunately, many of them continue to do so and risk causing a fatal accident. If a driver involved in a fatal crash is also accused of DUI or DWI, the charges and penalties could increase. An accident involving a […]