Experienced Glen Ellyn Criminal Defense Lawyers Help You

Get Help from Glen Ellyn, IL, Criminal Lawyers

Illinois takes criminal offenses seriously, and punishments are severe, so if you are arrested and charged with a criminal offense, the Glen Ellyn criminal defense lawyers at Wolfe & Stec can help you fight for your rights, freedom, and the justice you deserve.

The stakes are too high to fight criminal charges on your own. If your offense is a felony, you face potential sentences ranging from one year to life in prison, and if it is a misdemeanor, sentences 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.

Fortunately, our Wolfe & Stec criminal defense lawyers have extensive experience with the Illinois criminal justice system and know how to protect your rights and make sure the criminal system is treating you correctly. We understand what you are going through and are here to help.

Our Glen Ellyn criminal defense lawyers provide a free consultation to discuss the circumstances of your case and determine the best way to handle it. We will deal with law enforcement, the prosecutors, and the judges, and will do everything legally possible to keep you out of jail. We will find the best defense possible to get your charges reduced or dismissed.

Delaying can only make your situation worse, so call us today at 630-305-0222 for your free, confidential case evaluation.

How Our Glen Ellyn Criminal Defense Attorneys Can Help

Our Criminal Defense Attorneys Work for You from the Start

When faced with arrest, many people make mistakes that hurt their case. When you call the Glen Ellyn criminal defense lawyers at Wolfe & Stec, we will make sure you are treated as if you are presumed innocent from the start, are provided with your rights, and are not intimidated or abused by overzealous police and prosecutors.

We can help by:

• Keeping you from saying or doing anything that would negatively affect your case
• Explaining what your rights are and making sure you exercise them
• Making sure police and prosecutors follow regulations and the law
• Handling bail and arraignment
• Gathering evidence by examining the crime scene, examining police reports, and finding witnesses
• Working with experts, such as investigators or reconstruction specialists, to look for weaknesses in the case and mistakes made by the prosecution
• Building the most viable case for your defense
• Negotiating and plea bargaining with the prosecutor for a dismissal or lesser charge
• Taking your case to trial and presenting evidence, examining witnesses, and arguing on your behalf in front of a judge or jury
• Filing an appeal if necessary.

Common Defenses Our Glen Ellyn Attorneys Use

Law enforcement and prosecutors often make mistakes, and our Glen Ellyn criminal defense lawyers know how to find flaws in their case against you. These may include:

• Law enforcement conducted improper investigation procedures or lineups
• Over-broad search warrants or searches that were not based on sufficient evidence
• You were subject to undue duress during interrogation
• There were other violations of your rights.

Glen Ellyn Criminal Defense Attorney Protects Your Rights

We Explain Your Rights and Work to Protect Them

Anyone arrested has certain rights, but that may not stop police and prosecutors from ignoring them and trying to get you to say and do something that can be used against you. When you hire our Glen Ellyn criminal defense attorneys, we will make sure you know your rights and that they are not violated. Important rights include:

• Right to an attorney – Illinois statute 725 ILCS 5/103-3 gives you the right to speak to an attorney before answering questions. Call us right away so we can keep you from making mistakes.
• Miranda rights – As soon as you are arrested, you should be read your Miranda rights informing you that you have the right to remain silent and not answer questions.
• Arrest warrants – You have the right to ask for and be shown an arrest warrant and told what the criminal charges are. Law enforcement must get and show you this warrant unless they have probable cause to believe you committed a crime.
• Preliminary hearing – Felony charges must be approved at a preliminary hearing by a judge or grand jury to authorize probable cause.
• Bond – You have the right to a bond hearing to determine a bail amount if there is probable cause. Meeting bail allows you to stay out of custody until trial.

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

Criminal Defense Lawyers in Glen Ellyn, IL, Help Throughout the Criminal Process

Be Prepared for All Steps

It’s natural to be apprehensive when facing criminal charges, but our Wolfe & Stec criminal defense attorneys in Glen Ellyn know what you are going through. We will always be there to answer your questions and make sure you are prepared for each step of the criminal court process, including:

• Initial appearance. At your initial appearance, the judge states the charges and bond amount. Posting bond allows you to remain out of jail until the case is resolved.
• Arraignment. At arraignment, you are officially informed of the charges against you, and an initial trial date will be set. If you have not already done so, you will be asked if you wish to hire an attorney or if you want to use a public defender. Our attorneys will make sure you enter the correct plea.
• Discovery: This is where you and your attorney learn what evidence the prosecutor has against you. We can examine evidence such as witness statements, police reports, and videos to see if there are any weaknesses.
• Pre-trial Preparation: At this stage, your Glen Ellyn criminal defense lawyer will interview witnesses and seek evidence to build your defense strategy.
• Plea Bargaining: If the prosecutor has a strong case against you, a plea bargain for a reduced charge may be your best option. Negotiations for a plea bargain can occur at any time before a verdict, and you would have to approve any agreement before finalization.
• Trial: If plea bargaining fails, the next step is going to trial. This may be a bench trial in front of a judge or a jury trial. During the trial, your attorney and the prosecutor will present evidence and produce and cross-examine witnesses. The prosecutor has the burden of proving that you are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt – you are not required to prove that you are innocent. The judge then instructs the jury on applicable law, and after closing arguments, the case goes to the jury for deliberation.
• 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. Your Glen Ellyn criminal defense attorney will look for a technical or other mistake that allows us to appeal a guilty verdict to a higher court to be overturned.

Criminal Lawyers in Glen Ellyn Know Illinois Crimes and Punishments

Criminal Penalties Can Be Severe, but May Be Reduced

The Illinois Criminal Code categorizes crimes as misdemeanors or felonies, which are then divided into classes according to severity. Your charges will be based on the individual circumstances of the crime, and punishments vary accordingly.

Misdemeanors – Misdemeanor charges are considered less serious than felonies, but they still have harsh consequences, including fines up to $2,500 and a maximum jail punishment of 364 days. They will give you a criminal record that may have negative effects on your life. If you have more than one offense, the risk of jail time increases.

Misdemeanor criminal charges are broken into Class A, Class B, and Class C. Examples include:

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

Felony crimes — are divided into five classes, based on seriousness and range from Class 1 through 4 felonies to Class X felonies. Class 4 felonies are the least severe, but still bring risk of 1 to 3 years in prison. Class X felonies are the most serious, except for a first-degree murder charge. Even a first-time offender convicted of a Class X felony faces a mandatory minimum of six years and a maximum of 30 years in prison. There may also be fines of up to $25,000.

Examples of felonies in Illinois include:

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

Regardless of the charges, our Wolfe & Stec Glen Ellyn criminal defense attorneys are prepared to offer a top-notch defense. Our desired goal is dismissal of charges or a “not guilty” verdict. In situations where evidence makes plea bargaining your best option, we will seek to have your charge reduced to get you the lowest possible sentence.

Get Help from Our Criminal Defense Lawyers in Glen Ellyn

When you are accused of a crime in Illinois, having a highly skilled Glen Ellyn 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 protect your rights and 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 answer your questions and keep you informed about your case through every step of the process.

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