Experienced Bolingbrook Criminal Defense Lawyer

Our Bolingbrook Criminal Lawyers Fight for Your Rights

If you have been arrested for a criminal offense in Illinois, the Bolingbrook criminal defense lawyers at Wolfe & Stec can help you fight for your rights and freedom. Illinois punishments for crimes are severe, with felonies carrying potential sentences ranging from one year to life in prison, and misdemeanors from one month to one year in jail. If convicted, you may lose your job and your family; you may have to deal with fines, long-term supervision, restitution, drug treatment programs, and community service. In addition, you will have a criminal record that remains with you throughout your life and negatively affects your educational and career prospects, your family and social relationships, your housing situation, and any public or immigration benefits.

The stakes are too high to go it alone. You should immediately get the help of an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Bolingbrook to protect your rights, make sure the criminal system is treating you correctly, and fight for your freedom and the justice you deserve.

Our Bolingbrook criminal lawyers offer a free consultation to discuss the circumstances that led to your arrest and find the best way to help. We know how the criminal system operates, the tactics prosecutors use, and how to plea bargain and present your case in front of a judge and jury. We will do everything legally possible to keep you out of jail, and, in many cases, we can find ways to have your charges reduced or dismissed.

The sooner we can start working for you, the better, so call us today at 630-305-0222 for your free, confidential case evaluation.

What Our Bolingbrook Criminal Defense Attorney Can Do for You

Criminal Defense Attorneys Are There Throughout the Entire Criminal Process

When you are accused of a crime, you are supposed to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, but you are often treated as if you have been convicted, even before a trial. Once you call the Bolingbrook criminal defense lawyers at Wolfe & Stec, we will make sure you are given all your rights and are not intimidated by police and prosecutors.

We can help by:

• Explaining what your rights are and making sure you use them
• Keeping you from saying or doing anything that would negatively affect your case
• Making sure police and prosecutors follow regulations and don’t abuse you
• Dealing with issues of bail and arraignment
• Finding the best ways to build a case for your defense
• Gathering evidence by means such as examining the crime scene, interviewing witnesses, and examining police reports
• Looking for weaknesses in the case and mistakes made by the prosecution
• Negotiating and plea bargaining for a dismissal or lesser charge
• Taking your case to trial and presenting evidence, examining witnesses, and arguing on your behalf
• Filing an appeal if necessary.

Our attorneys can work with experts such as investigators or reconstruction specialists to examine the evidence prosecutors are using, to find flaws in their case against you. For example, there may be:

• Improper investigation procedures or lineups by law enforcement
• Undue duress during interrogation
• Over-broad search warrants or searches that were not based on sufficient evidence
• Other violations of your rights.

Our Bolingbrook Criminal Defense Attorney Explains Your Rights

Knowing Your Rights is the First Step to Protecting Them

If you don’t know what your rights are, police and prosecutors can cause you to say and do something that can be used against you. When you hire our Bolingbrook criminal defense attorneys, we will make sure you know your rights so you can avoid making mistakes. These include:

• Miranda rights – Upon arrest, you should immediately be read your Miranda rights informing you that you have the right to remain silent and not answer questions.
• Right to an attorney – Illinois statute 725 ILCS 5/103-3 provides you with the right to speak to an attorney before answering questions. We can keep you from making mistakes from the start, so call us immediately.
• Right to be shown an arrest warrant and told what the criminal charges are. Unless they have probable cause to believe you committed a crime, police must have a warrant.
• Preliminary hearing – If you are charged with a felony, charges must be approved at a preliminary hearing by a judge or grand jury to authorize probable cause.
• Bond – If probable cause is found, you have the right to a bond hearing to determine a bail amount. If you can meet bail, you can stay out of custody until trial.

The Bolingbrook criminal defense lawyers at Wolfe & Stec are aware that rights violations or improper procedures may be reason to have your case dismissed before it ever gets to trial, and we will look for any mistakes made by law enforcement or the prosecution. Call us at 630-305-0222 today.

Criminal Lawyers in Bolingbrook Explain Illinois Crimes and Punishments

Our Lawyers Will Work to Find Ways to Reduce Any Penalties

The Illinois Criminal Code categorizes crimes as misdemeanors or felonies, with felonies being more serious and having greater penalties. There are different sub-categories or classes as well. What you are charged with depends on the individual circumstances of the crime, and there are factors that may increase a sentence, such as if you had prior convictions or if weapons were used.

Misdemeanors

Misdemeanors are considered less serious than felonies, but they are still serious offenses with harsh consequences. They go on your record, carry the potential of jail time, and may have negative effects on your life.

Misdemeanor criminal charges are broken into three classes. Examples of misdemeanors include:

• theft
• assault and battery
• driving with a suspended or revoked license
• criminal trespass to residence or vehicles
• criminal damage or defacement to property.

Misdemeanors carry a maximum sentence of one year in jail, usually with no mandatory minimum jail time for most charges, and can bring fines of up to $2,500. There is an increased risk of jail for second or subsequent offenses.

Felony Offenses

Felony crimes are divided into five classes, based on seriousness and range from Class 1 through 4 felonies to Class X felonies. Class X felonies are the most severe, and Class 4 felonies are the least severe.

Examples of felonies in Illinois include:

• aggravated arson
• aggravated battery of a child
• armed robbery
• criminal drug conspiracy
• kidnapping
• sexual assault
• possession of drugs such as cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine.

Class 1-4 punishments may be as follows:

• Class 1 felonies, 4 to 15 years
• Class 2 felonies, 3 to 7 years
• Class 3 felonies, 2 to 5 years
• Class 4 felonies, 1 to 3 years.

Some convictions may bring mandatory minimum jail sentences, and maximum jail sentences can exceed 30 years, which may result in a lifetime of imprisonment. Fines can be up to $25,000.

Our Wolfe & Stec Bolingbrook criminal defense attorneys are prepared to defend you against any of these charges. Our desired goal is dismissal of charges or a “not guilty” verdict. In situations where evidence makes plea bargaining the best course, we will seek to have your charge reduced to get you the lowest possible sentence.

Criminal Defense Lawyers in Bolingbrook Explain What to Expect from the Criminal Process

We Will Prepare You for Every Step

The Illinois criminal process is complicated and confusing, but it is easier if you know what to expect and are fully prepared. Our Wolfe & Stec criminal defense attorneys in Bolingbrook will be there for each step of the criminal court process, including:

• Initial appearance. At your initial appearance, the judge states the charges and bond amount. If you can post bond or get a bondsman to post it, you will remain out of jail until the case is resolved.
• Arraignment. At arraignment, you are officially informed of the charges against you. If you have not already done so, you will be asked if you wish to hire an attorney. You may also qualify for a public defender. You will plead guilty or not guilty, and an initial trial date will be set.
• Discovery: This is where you and your attorney can examine the evidence the prosecutor has against you, such as witness statements, police reports, and videos.
• Pre-trial Preparation: At this stage, your Bolingbrook criminal defense lawyer will interview witnesses and seek evidence to build your defense strategy.
• Plea Bargaining: At any time before a verdict, your attorney and the prosecutor can negotiate for a plea bargain for a reduced charge. This may be your best option if the prosecutor has a strong case against you. You would have to approve any plea bargain agreement before finalization.
• Trial: If plea bargaining fails, the next step is either a bench trial in front of a judge or a jury trial. During the trial, your attorney and the prosecutor will present evidence and cross-examine witnesses. The law does not require that you prove your innocence — the prosecutor has to prove that you are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The judge will instruct the jury on applicable law and, after closing arguments, the case goes to the jury.
• Verdict: If you are found not guilty, the case is over and you are free. If you are found guilty, you will be sentenced.
• Appeal: Even if you are found guilty, there is still hope. If a technical or other mistake can be found, your Bolingbrook criminal defense attorney may appeal a guilty verdict to a higher court to be overturned.

Get Help from Our Criminal Defense Lawyers in Bolingbrook Right Away

When you are accused of a crime in Illinois, the consequences can change your life forever, so it’s natural to be afraid and unsure of where to turn. Having a highly skilled Bolingbrook criminal defense lawyer on your side from the start can reduce your anxiety and the chances of your making a mistake. The sooner you call us, the sooner we can go to work to build your case while evidence is still available and witnesses can be found.

At Wolfe & Stec, our attorneys will make sure that no stone is left unturned in building your defense. We will work with you, answer your questions, and keep you informed about your case through every step of the process.

Call the Bolingbrook criminal defense lawyers at Wolfe & Stec today at 630-305-0222 for a free, confidential consultation so we can start fighting for your rights, your freedom, and your future.