Being charged with a sex crime can have life-changing consequences. It can destroy your family, career, and reputation. In Illinois, if there is a conviction you could spend years in prison and be required to register as a sex offender. It is important to have an experienced attorney to help you build a robust defense to fight sex crime charges. Attorney Scott Anderson is a former prosecutor and he knows how to stay one step ahead of the other side.
Silence
If you have been accused of a sex crime, silence is the best course to protect yourself. Do not…
Continue Reading Defense Strategies For Sex Crimes

Domestic violence is prevalent in the United States even though government officials, police, and community groups have tried to fight this problem. Many women continue to experience rape and physical injury by their intimate partners. Nationwide, about one in four women face domestic abuse. What is so alarming according to a new study is that 68 percent of pregnant women are killed with a firearm used by their partner. Depending on the circumstances of each case, in Illinois, domestic violence is a crime that can be considered a felony. If you are facing charges of domestic violence, you need…
Continue Reading Pregnant Women and Domestic Violence: Understanding Potential Charges

An aggravated felony DUI in the state of Illinois is a very serious matter. It is a drunk driving accusation that results in felony charges. Depending on the circumstances of the DUI, even a first-time aggravated DUI conviction could lead to severe criminal penalties. The consequences can range from mandatory jail time to hefty fines. If you are facing charges of aggravated DUI it is in your best interest to work with a DUI criminal defense attorney.
Aggravating Factors in a DUI Case 
The following situations are some examples of what constitutes aggravated DUI under Illinois drunk driving laws:

• Driving

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Every day, people are arrested and charged with criminal acts. Depending on what type of crime you are charged with allegedly committing, your biggest worry may not even be the legal consequences you will face if you are convicted of the crime. For some people, their greatest fear is how being charged with a crime may disrupt or irrevocably alter their personal and professional lives. Beyond the punishment handed down by the court, the collateral consequences of a criminal conviction can impact many aspects of an individual’s life. Today, we will examine how being charged with a crime can dramatically…
Continue Reading Understanding the Professional and Personal Consequences of a Criminal Conviction

 Theft is a serious crime in the state of Illinois, and it carries severe consequences for those who are convicted of it. Theft can be defined as taking another person’s property without permission. The severity of the punishment for theft depends on several factors, including the value of the property stolen, the type of property stolen, and the circumstances surrounding the theft. 
Today, we will look at important considerations if you are ever charged with theft. Make no mistake: theft is a crime that can upend one’s life if convicted. To help prevent a detrimental conviction, consider contacting an…
Continue Reading I Was Charged with Theft; Could I Go to Prison? 

Going to trial in a criminal defense case can be a complex and highly emotional decision for any defendant. On the one hand, the Constitution protects the right to a fair trial, and the opportunity to present evidence can be crucial in securing a favorable outcome. On the other hand, the process of going to trial can be notoriously time-consuming, costly, and can bring unwanted attention and uncertainty to the defendant as well as their family. In this blog, we will look at the benefits and drawbacks of going to trial in Illinois criminal defense cases to help you make…
Continue Reading Weighing Your Options: What Are the Benefits and Drawbacks of Going to Trial in a Criminal Case? 

Even as a first offense, a DUI charge is not something to take lightly. It is true that first-time DUI offenses used to be considered little more than a serious traffic violation. However, this is no longer the case. Now, not only is a DUI charge one of the more severe misdemeanors someone can commit, but they are also sometimes even charged as felonies if certain aggravating factors are present in the situation.
It may come as a surprise that the total cost of a first-time DUI, when taking into account both direct and indirect costs, amounts to a…
Continue Reading What to Know About First-Time DUI in Illinois

Unquestionably, our lives are becoming more and more digitized every day. While devices like smartphones and smartwatches have made us more interconnected with each other than ever before, these types of devices undoubtedly have made our lives more complicated, especially when it comes to cases of distracted driving. Many of us have experienced the temptation of checking a text message while driving. Unfortunately, what begins as responding to a text message while driving can quickly result in getting pulled over for a distracted driving traffic violation. 
In this blog, we will delve deeper into the law regarding distracted driving…
Continue Reading What Kind of Evidence May Be Included in a Distracted Driving Case? 

In recent years, the societal conversation regarding drug use has changed. The focus has shifted from how best to punish drug crime offenders to how best to rehabilitate drug crime offenders. For example, in years past, if you were convicted of a drug crime such as drug possession, where you were found guilty of possessing an illicit drug other than cannabis, you would likely be facing the possibility of a life-shattering felony conviction. Today, however, Illinois courts acknowledge that most people caught with small amounts of drugs are not big-time drug traffickers but instead regular people who made a…
Continue Reading What to Know About the Illinois Diversion Program for Drug Crime Defendants

For many of us, driving is a fundamental part of everyday life. Whether driving to the grocery store, driving to work, or picking your child up from school, it can be hard to imagine life without driving. Driving has become so ingrained in our society that we often forget that it is a privilege that we get to drive, not a right. Unfortunately, there are scenarios where someone may break the law, such as through a DUI charge, which can result in a license suspension.
Once someone’s license gets suspended, that person must tread very carefully. It is critical…
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Make no mistake: being convicted of a DUI can have life-shattering consequences. Steep fines and a possible jail sentence are only the beginning. Many who are convicted of a DUI face immense socioeconomic challenges as well as difficulties in their personal life. Unfortunately, there is often a notion that when someone is charged with DUI, it is a foregone conclusion that they will be convicted. However, this is not necessarily the case. 
It is possible to beat a DUI charge. However, doing so will require you tp first hire an experienced DUI attorney to ensure your rights remain protected and…
Continue Reading Different Ways Your DUI Case May Not Result in a Guilty Verdict 

 Being accused of a felony or misdemeanor you did not commit is a nightmarish scenario for many people. Moreover, being charged or even convicted for such a crime is an even bigger nightmare. While the United States has safeguards in the legal system such as “beyond a reasonable doubt,” unfortunately, people are still found guilty, or sometimes plead guilty, for crimes they did not commit. How could this be? 
There are many reasons why people are found guilty of crimes they did not commit. In this blog, we will delve deeper into some of those reasons. At the outset, if…
Continue Reading Why Are People Found Guilty of Crimes They Did Not Commit? 

The holidays are here; for many, this time of the year is a beautiful time to spend with family and friends. However, while this is a happy time for many, it is also a busy time of the year for law enforcement. As stores swell with crowds of enthusiastic and impatient shoppers, it is not uncommon for theft to spike during this time of the year. Whether it be due to overcrowded stores, a case of overzealous shoppers or someone simply swiping a package off someone’s front porch, law enforcement in Illinois is on the lookout for theft of all…
Continue Reading Understanding the Penalties for Theft Charges This Holiday Season