Posted on November 07, 2024 in Sex Offenses

Many people are familiar with the concept of registering as a sex offender. If convicted of certain sex crimes, you need to add your name to the Illinois sex offender registry. However, doing so can result in consequences beyond whatever sentence you were given. You might miss out on education, employment, housing, or other opportunities because of this record. While some might be motivated not to register, failure to do so can result in serious legal implications. If you are facing sex crime charges and are wondering what might happen if you do not register as required, an experienced Naperville, IL criminal defense lawyer can offer helpful legal guidance.

What Is the Law About Registering as a Sex Offender in Illinois?

According to Illinois’ Sex Offender Registration Act, people convicted of certain sex crimes must register with local law enforcement within three days of moving somewhere and establishing residency there. Convicted sex offenders need to update their information whenever their circumstances change, and if those stay the same, then they need to validate their information every year.

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 Posted on October 30, 2024 in Criminal Defense

If police catch you doing something wrong while driving, they can pull you over. If they see you speeding, changing lanes without signaling, or holding a phone while driving, they are authorized to stop you. Even without a warrant and without intending to conduct a search, police might happen to see drugs or something else illegal in your car when they pull you over, and things can escalate quickly. If this happened to you, speak with a skilled Naperville, IL criminal defense lawyer to review your case and understand your options.

Protection against Unlawful Searches

The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects people against unreasonable searches. That means that police need a warrant to search a vehicle unless they have "probable cause," or good reason to believe that it contains something illegal or evidence of something illegal. If the police violate the Fourth Amendment, evidence they obtained during an unlawful search might be excluded in court.

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 Posted on October 21, 2024 in Sex Offenses

We live in a time where technology can be used to generate images and other content, eliminating the need to photograph or film real people. This has had a major impact on many fields, and the pornography industry is no exception. Some people have been gravitating toward AI-generated porn to avoid charges they could face for possessing certain material depicting actual people. However, a new bill being advanced in Illinois could mean that creating and sharing AI-generated content would be liable for the same penalties as actual child pornography. To learn more, speak with a qualified Naperville, IL criminal defense lawyer.

What is Considered Dissemination of Child Pornography?

For something to be considered child pornography, it needs to include a sexually explicit visual depiction of a child who is younger than 18. According to Illinois law, there are two categories of actions that can be considered the dissemination or spreading of child pornography:

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 Posted on October 14, 2024 in Criminal Defense

With another academic year underway, college campuses across the country are the common hosts of political protests and demonstrations focusing on all sorts of issues. College is a wonderful time for people to explore and learn more about themselves and the world around them, and students often find it exciting to feel they are doing their part to make the change they want to see.

However, political protests can sometimes turn violent without much warning. There could be a huge group of people protesting peacefully when suddenly a small group of extremists turns the dynamic into something very different. Students who are not interested in rioting and chaos can find themselves in the middle of it all and get arrested. If this happens to you or your child, contact a skilled Illinois criminal defense lawyer for help.

What Should I Do if I Get Arrested?

If you get arrested at a political protest, you need to be careful about how you react. There are ways you can act that could make matters much worse. Expressing your opinion in a country that respects the freedom of speech should not ruin your future. The following steps can help you try to keep the situation under control:

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 Posted on October 07, 2024 in Criminal Defense

With gas prices running so high, the need to fill your tank can be a serious drawback of owning a car. But like anything else, it is illegal to take gas without paying for it. You might be surprised to learn that there is an entire area of the law dedicated to what is known as diesel theft.

Criminal charges for stealing gas in Illinois carry significant consequences that can affect you for years to come. If you are accused of diesel theft, a qualified Naperville, IL criminal defense attorney can review your options and help you navigate the next steps.

What Are the Charges for Diesel Theft?

The specific charges and penalties you can face for diesel theft depend on the circumstances of the alleged crime. However, intent is an important component in all convictions. Even though you can be charged with diesel theft whether you stole the fuel outright or bought stolen fuel from someone else, the prosecution needs to demonstrate that your actions were done knowingly with the intent of taking something illegally from its rightful owner.

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 Posted on September 30, 2024 in Criminal Defense

Conspiracy to bribe charges of a former Illinois House Speaker by four former lobbyists and executives from ComEd resulted in convictions, yet now the four are asking a judge to dismiss all charges. The conviction for bribery involved a scheme to arrange high-paying jobs and no-work contracts for friends of the Illinois House Speaker in exchange for assistance with favorable legislation.

In June 2024, SCOTUS issued a ruling that significantly narrowed the scope of federal anti-corruption laws. Following that ruling, a bribery conviction for a former Indiana Mayor was overturned. In the wake of the ruling, the four Illinois executives are now asking to be acquitted of all the charges, have the case dismissed, or be granted a new trial.

The attorneys for the defendants say the case is fatally flawed and was built on invalid theories. State prosecutors have until October 15 to respond to the defense team's motion. If you have been charged with the federal crime of bribery, you should know that the offense carries harsh sentences, including hefty fines and lengthy jail sentences. Having a skilled Naperville, IL criminal defense attorney experienced in federal crimes can make the difference in the outcome of the charges.  

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 Posted on September 23, 2024 in Criminal Defense

It is no surprise that people often regret things they did in their youth. Nobody is perfect, and all people make mistakes, which is true for adolescents. While they may be going through their rebellious stage, their actions can have serious consequences, including convictions and a criminal background. Fortunately, requesting that your juvenile charges be expunged from the record is possible. The state of Illinois recently passed a new law aimed at easing the entire expungement application process, with the understanding that you should not need to keep getting punished for a crime that you have already paid the price for committing. If you have questions about getting your juvenile record expunged, speak with a knowledgeable Naperville, IL, criminal defense attorney.

How Does Expungement Work in Illinois?

When a minor gets arrested for criminal activity, they have a criminal record that can impede his or her future. Any opportunity they try to grasp - whether it is a school, job, housing, or romantic partner - can be taken away once someone discovers they have a criminal record from a mistake he or she made in his or her youth. In Illinois, there are a few possibilities for getting your record expunged, which means it would be as if it never existed.

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 Posted on September 16, 2024 in Criminal Defense

As the world began understanding the debilitating effects that the COVID-19 pandemic was having globally, the U.S. Government got to work creating economic support for people whose finances were harmed. Unemployed individuals, small businesses, and companies received hundreds of billions of dollars to encourage the economy and keep it from collapsing. This aid was set aside for people who needed it, but over $8 billion in relief fraud was discovered, triggering the creation of a federal task force to address it. To date, over 3,500 people have been charged and over 400 civil lawsuits filed about this. Unfortunately, given the motivation to stop COVID fraud, many innocent people who truly needed economic relief have been caught in the middle and are facing charges, too. Since COVID fraud includes federal offenses like wire fraud, bank fraud, and disaster assistance fraud, the consequences can be severe. If you have been accused of COVID fraud, ask a qualified Naperville, IL criminal defense lawyer for guidance.

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 Posted on September 12, 2024 in Criminal Defense

Gun laws can be difficult to keep track of. Many legal measures are in place to protect American citizens’ right to bear arms, which was established in the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. There are other protections in place aimed at restricting people’s access to guns for the sake of public safety. Not only is it confusing because these two objectives tend to be at odds with each other, but laws in both directions keep changing. That means that you might find yourself facing criminal charges without realizing you did anything wrong. In 2022, President Biden signed a gun safety law that has recently taken effect. Recent numbers claim that over 500 cases of federal weapons charges have resulted. If you want to learn more about the implications of gun law development, speak with a knowledgeable Naperville, IL criminal defense lawyer.

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 Posted on August 28, 2024 in Criminal Defense

Counterfeiting is a serious crime that involves the creation or distribution of fake items, such as currency, documents, or goods, with the intent to trick others into thinking they are real. These actions are not only illegal but can also lead to severe consequences, especially when federal laws are violated.

If you or someone you know is facing state or federal counterfeit criminal charges, it is crucial to get help from an attorney as soon as possible. Contacting a knowledgeable Naperville, IL federal criminal defense attorney is the first step in protecting your rights and building a strong defense against these charges.

What Behaviors Can Lead to Counterfeiting Charges?

Counterfeiting covers a wide range of activities that can lead to criminal charges. Some of the behaviors that can result in counterfeiting charges include:

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