Warrenville Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you’re facing criminal charges in Illinois, having the right advocate on your side can make all the difference in the outcome of your case. The Warrenville criminal defense lawyers at Wolfe & Stec, Ltd. work to obtain acquittals, favorable sentences, and even dropped or dismissed charges for clients throughout the community. No matter your legal situation, seeking guidance from our skilled team is vital for your best interests.

A Warrenville criminal defense lawyer from our team can work tirelessly to protect your future. Call Wolfe & Stec, Ltd. 630-305-0222 to find out how we can help you with your case today.

Why Choose Us to Defend You?

Aggressive and Effective Representation

When it comes to criminal defense, experience matters. Our seasoned criminal defense lawyers serving Warrenville have represented numerous defendants in all manner of criminal matters.

Choosing Wolfe & Stec, Ltd. means you benefit from a firm with:

• 24-hour availability
• Decades of combined criminal defense experience
• Effective criminal defense attorneys serving Warrenville
• Tailored defenses.

At Wolfe & Stec, Ltd., we fight for your future. We work to build the most robust defense cases based on your unique circumstances and never use cookie-cutter methods and strategies. If you are facing criminal charges, our attorneys can stand with you and fight for your freedom.

Types of Cases We Handle

Regardless of whether you have been charged with a misdemeanor or a felony, our criminal defense attorneys serving Warrenville can develop a defense strategy on your behalf. Some of the most common types of cases we take on include the following:

Drug Crimes

Are you facing a drug crime? In Illinois, sentences for drug crime convictions can lead to decades behind bars. But a robust defense can yield lower prison sentences or even no sentence at all.

Our experienced criminal defense attorneys serving Warrenville can defend against drug charges regardless of the substance in question.

DUI

A DUI can upend your life, but a charge is not the end of the story. Our Warrensville criminal defense lawyers have gotten DUI charges dismissed, dropped, reduced, and defeated at trial. We can confidently navigate this nuanced area of criminal law and effectively protect our clients’ futures.

In Illinois, DUI charges can be based on alcohol as well as other legal and illegal substances, such as:

• Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines
• Prescription medication
• Marijuana
• Heroin
• Cocaine
• Any other substance that impairs a driver.

Whatever the basis for the charge, our team knows how to build the appropriate defense.

Some defenses we may leverage include questioning:

• The functionality or calibration of any test used
• The competence of those who administered the test
• The manner in which the test was administered
• The validity of the initial traffic stop.

Our efforts are aimed at helping our clients avoid the harsh penalties involved.

These penalties can include:

• Time behind bars
• Fines
• Loss of driving privileges
• Community service.

Penalties are based on the circumstances of the DUI. For example, a first-time offender can receive lighter treatment from the court than a repeat offender. However, a first-time offender involved in a particularly serious DUI crash could see harsher penalties than a second- or even third-time offender.

Aggravating factors in these cases can include:

• Bodily harm or death
• Significant property damage, such as damage to houses or buildings
• The level of impairment as determined by behavior or blood alcohol content (BAC)
• Criminal record
• The presence of children.

At Wolfe & Stec, Ltd., we understand how dark the future might seem with a DUI charge. We want clients to know that a strong defense is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Weapons Charges

Guns and weapons charges can lead to years behind bars. Often, they are enhancements to other crimes. In Illinois, the use of a firearm during any of a variety of offenses can result in significant enhancement of the penalty for the underlying crime.

Specifically, the law calls for enhancements — in years — of 15-20-25 to life for having or using a firearm during a felony. Generally, 15 years is added for possessing a gun, 20 for firing the firearm, and 25 to life for causing great bodily harm, disfigurement, or death. In addition to these enhancements, defendants also face charges relating solely to the gun, such as aggravated discharge of a firearm and aggravated battery with a firearm.

Defendants facing these charges need their attorneys working for them from Day One. Prosecutors may move quickly to lock in plea deals that favor the state in terms of sentencing. With an advocate, however, a defendant has someone fighting the state on equal ground.

Sex Crimes

Sex crimes prosecutors tend to seek the harshest of penalties for defendants. Defendants also face a future of sex offender registry requirements and trouble procuring gainful employment. A skilled and experienced defense, however, can make a great difference in the outcome of sex crimes prosecutions.

Common sex crimes charges in Illinois include:

• Criminal sexual assault
• Aggravated criminal sexual assault
• Predatory criminal sexual assault of a child
• Criminal sexual abuse
• Indecent solicitation of an adult or a child.

In every case, the charge is usually more severe when a child is the victim. Our Warrensville criminal defense lawyers have worked extensively in this delicate area and know how to protect our clients throughout the process. We are discreet, effective advocates who know how to defend clients productively.

Murder

If you have been charged with murder, the state may seek the most severe punishment. We employ every necessary resource to defend our clients from the moment our representation begins. Our investigators, support staff, and attorneys work in concert to build a formidable, effective defense that might involve:

• Excluding evidence for search and seizure violations
• Discrediting witnesses
• Challenging the legality of the arrest
• Challenging the prosecution’s evidence.

We protect you during prosecutions of other homicide charges as well, such as involuntary manslaughter and attempted murder.

Potential Defenses

We leverage various defenses throughout prosecutions to protect our clients. Depending on the circumstances, we might use one or more of the following defense strategies.

Constitutional Challenges

A number of constitutional challenges can result in evidence being excluded from a case. For example, if the evidence is obtained by way of an illegal search and seizure, our criminal defense lawyers could argue to have the evidence excluded.

Another common challenge involves excluding a defendant’s words on the grounds that they are self-incriminating. If an officer does not properly inform a suspect of their right to remain silent and other important information, statements the defendant makes can be excluded by the defense.

Sufficiency of Evidence

Before arresting a defendant, the state must have enough evidence that it is reasonable to believe that the defendant may have committed a crime. The evidence need not be conclusive proof. However, it must meet a threshold. When our team takes on a case, one of the first things we do is review and challenge the evidence. We fight to get cases thrown out before they advance any further.

For these types of evidentiary challenges, the defendant needs a qualified lawyer early on. The court can effectively stop a prosecution in its tracks if the defense can show that there simply is no probable cause to continue it.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may have many questions if you are facing criminal charges. Consider these answers to common questions we receive from clients.

Can I get house arrest instead of jail time?

Potentially, yes. House arrest, known as home confinement, is an acceptable alternative to time behind bars in some cases. Our Warrenville criminal defense attorneys have successfully fought for and won home confinement instead of time in jail or prison on many occasions.

Will my case go to trial?

Whether your case goes to trial depends on the specific circumstances of your case. However, it is likely that your case will not see the inside of a courtroom because the vast majority of criminal cases are resolved during plea negotiations.

Will Wolfe & Stec, Ltd. defend me at trial?

If you have hired us and your case indeed must go to trial, you can expect Wolfe & Stec, Ltd. to provide you with a robust defense until your case has been fully resolved.

Do all crimes have a statute of limitations?

Not all crimes in Illinois are under statutes of limitations. In fact, there are quite a few that do not fall under this time limit, such as:

• First- and second-degree murder
• First-degree attempted murder and criminal solicitation to commit murder
• Involuntary manslaughter and reckless homicide
• Treason
• Arson
• Various sex crimes against minors.

Regarding those with statutes of limitations, felonies typically have three-year statutes of limitations, while misdemeanors are under an 18-month statute of limitations.

Still have questions? We are glad to provide you with more information. Reach out to us today to learn more.

Contact Wolfe & Stec, Ltd. for the Criminal Defense You Deserve

Warrenville Criminal Defense Lawyers Who Can Fight for You

Illinois prosecutors often seek convictions or plea deals with heavy punishments. At Wolfe & Stec, Ltd. we can attack the state’s case at every turn and routinely obtain favorable resolutions to our clients’ cases. Your future matters to us.

Our criminal defense lawyers serving Warrenville are available around the clock to discuss your affairs. Call Wolfe & Stec, Ltd. at 630-305-0222 to find out more today.