McHenry County, Illinois Criminal Defense Attorneys
Have you been arrested? If the answer is yes to this question, then you need to protect yourself and hire an experienced criminal defense attorney. The Nold Law Firm will protect your constitutional rights in the face of a system that can oftentimes feel like a trampling of your rights.
People get arrested and charged with a wide variety of crimes. Even some traffic tickets can result in an arrest. Other arrests fall into two categories: Misdemeanors and Felonies. Most people know that a felony is more serious than a misdemeanor, but where that line is drawn varies by state. Here is a brief rundown of just some of the charges that The Nold Law Firm can help you with.
What is a Misdemeanor in Illinois?
In Illinois, a misdemeanor is defined as any crime which is punishable by less than one year of jail time. Misdemeanors include:
- Domestic Battery
- DUI
- Suspended or Revoked Driver’s License
- Battery
- Criminal Damage to Property
- Disorderly conduct
- Aggravated speeding
- Theft Under $500 and Retail Theft
Misdemeanors are further split into three classes, as follows:
- Class A. Up to 364 days in jail and fines of up to $2,500.
- Class B. Up to 6 months in jail and fines of up to $1,500.
- Class C. Up to 30 days in jail and fines of up to $1,500.
Misdemeanors might also come with supervision or conditional discharge requirements, as well as court costs. Depending on the outcome of the case, some misdemeanors may be expunged or sealed, while others remain on your record forever and can be used to enhance future charges to a felony.
Criminal Defense Tips: Do NOT talk to the police.
As any experienced criminal lawyer knows, you should know all of your rights before you talk to the police during a criminal investigation, including how to use your 5th amendment right to protection from self-incrimination by remaining silent. Asserting the right to remain silent and requesting a criminal attorney prior to questioning is very important. The police are not just trying to clear up the details, they are investigating potential crime to charge you with and want to get you talking to make admissions that they CAN and WILL use against you.
People are investigated for an assortment of things and can be charged with a crime well after the fact. This is the principle of Statute of Limitations and it applies in criminal cases as well. When someone pleads the 5th in a criminal case, their silence or refusal to speak cannot be used against them. You have the right to counsel and you do not have to answer any questions.
Common crimes that police can investigate and charge you with after the fact:
- Leaving the Scene of an Accident
- Domestic Battery
- Sexual Assault
- Battery from a bar fight
- Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Criminal Damage to Property
- Drug Induced Homicide
- Other Serious Felonies
If the Police are investigating you it’s important to contact an attorney that can represent you in an experienced and skillful manner. Do not talk to the Police. Talk to The Nold Law Firm at 262-719-4442 and protect your rights.
If you’ve been arrested, you need a skilled defense attorney on your side.
I’m a criminal defense attorney who fights to defend people charged with any and every type of offense, including:
- Driving on a Suspended or Revoked License
- Driving Under the Influence
- Domestic Battery
- Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Aggravated Speeding
- Driver’s License/Never Issued
- Disorderly Conduct
- Forgery
- Battery
- Criminal Damage to Property
If you’ve been arrested, it is imperative that you exercise your right to remain silent, request a criminal defense attorney, and then call 262-719-4442 to speak to one of our criminal lawyers.
What is a Felony in Illinois?
A felony is any criminal offense that can result in a jail sentence of a year or more. Felonies cover a broad range and can include:
- Aggravated Battery
- Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Aggravated DUI
- Aggravated Driving on a Revoked License
- Aggravated Domestic Battery
- Fraud and Forgery
- Unlawful Use of a Weapon
Like misdemeanors, felonies in Illinois fall into one of several classifications:
- Class M. This specifically refers to murder. Jail sentence of 20 to life and up to $25,000 in fines.
- Class X. Jail sentence of 6 to 30 years and up to $25,000 in fines.
- Class 1. Jail sentence of 4 to 15 years and up to $25,000 in fines.
- Class 2. Jail sentence of 3 to 7 years and up to $25,000 in fines.
- Class 3. Jail sentence of 2 to 5 years and up to $25,000 in fines.
- Class 4. Jail sentence of 1 to 3 years and up to $25,000 in fines.
Illinois does not have the death penalty at the state level, having struck it down in 2011.
Many felonies can receive probation or even be reduced to a misdemeanor, but you need an experienced criminal defense attorney to help defend your constitutional rights to make that happen.
Contact our Crystal Lake IL Criminal Defense Attorneys Today.
If you’re in Crystal Lake, IL, there’s a chance that you may have found our website by searching for a term such as criminal defense attorney near me. When you or a loved one are being charged with a crime, it’s important to have a skilled representative on your side. Our criminal attorneys and criminal defense lawyers fight to defend you against felony and misdemeanor charges.
While finding the best criminal defense attorney can depend on a number of factors, and every case is different, you can rest assured that criminal defense attorney Daniel Nold has years of legal experience in successfully defending clients against a wide range of charges.
Whether you are facing felony or misdemeanor charges, you need a good lawyer to help you fight the government. To find out more, call The Nold Law Firm in Crystal Lake, IL at 262-719-4442 or fill out the easy form below to start protecting your rights.