Edwardsville, IL
Criminal defense Lawyer at Edwardsville, IL
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, DUI & DWI ... +2 more
OUTCOME: Suspensions rescinded
My clients were both charged with DUI in Fayette County, Illinois. One was a commercial driver. The other was a local motorist. Both had submitted breath samples in excess of .08. I was able to neg ... otiate rescission of both of their suspensions. This means they will not have to obtain a permit to drive (MDDP) or put a breath interlock device into their vehicles.
OUTCOME: Not Guilty as to all counts
Ms. Cole was charged with Official Misconduct and Forgery. She was a police officer for 15 years at the time. She was alleged to have altered a doctor's note and submitted it to the city as an effort ... to obtain unwarranted sick pay. The problem is the State's theory and proof was extremely weak. She had no motive to do what they claimed she did because her husband (also an officer) had already agreed to transfer days to her for the dates she had missed. She denied altering the document. We produced proof at trial that the two clerks who were witnesses against her had filed an order of protection against her 5 years earlier (one of the witnesses) and the second had serious credibility problems of her own that resulted in her being removed from the police department by the chief shortly before the charges were made against her. The jury was out only 40 minutes before returning the not guilty verdicts.
OUTCOME: Not Guilty on the Gun Charge
My client had been charged with multiple felony counts when the aircraft he piloted was searched revealing 64 pounds of marijuana. There was a handgun present as well. If he was convicted on the gun ... charge he would have received a minimum 5 year prison sentence. He could received a much lower sentence on the other two cannabis charges. We tried the case in the Central District of Illinois and won the gun charge.
OUTCOME: Dismissed
My client was charged with Battery after he allegedly inappropriately touched a person on their head in a public bathroom. We obtained a copy of the discovery and quickly determined the charge was leg ... ally insufficient. I filed the motion to dismiss and the case was in fact dismissed by the judge.
OUTCOME: Bond Reduced
I was hired to take the case over after another attorney had failed to obtain a bond reduction for my client. He was charged with a very serious drug trafficking case. We successfully obtained a subs ... tantial bond reduction to $100,000. He posted bond and was released.
OUTCOME: Misdmeanor Conviction
Mr. Hudson was charge by Edwardsville Police after being discovered to have possessed a large quantity of cannabis. The charge was felony possession with intent to deliver. The State wanted a felony ... conviction due to my client's criminal history. We eventually persuaded the State to accept a misdemeanor plea for simple possession of cannabis.
OUTCOME: Conviction
Mr. Collins was charged with strangling his wife resulting in a Class 2 felony charge. He had previously served prison time on 2nd Degree Murder and a separate term for Armed Robbery. His potential s ... entence was 6-30 years in prison at 85%. We were uncertain whether his wife would appear in court for the jury trial. We selected a jury. His wife appeared in court after being picked up by police on a contempt warrant. Prior to opening statements we negotiated a reduced charge (Aggravated Battery - Class 3) upon which he plead guilty to and agreed to a sentence of 3 years at 50%. It seemed likely he would be convicted with his wife's testimony against him had we proceeded with the trial. Ultimately he received 1.5 years actual time when he most likely would have received more than 5.25 years. While its not a dismissal, it was the best outcome for him.
OUTCOME: Misdmeanor Conviction
Mr. Smith was charged with Cannabis Trafficking and Possession with Intent to Deliver (both class X felonies) after the police discovered 15 pounds of cannabis in his possession. We argued and lost a ... motion to suppress based upon what we believed to be a bad search of the vehicle he was in. Eventually, we were able to convince the State to reduce the charge from a mandatory time offense to a lesser offense. Further, after Mr. Smith completes 2 years of standard probation in his home state of California, the charge will be reduced to a misdemeanor offense.
OUTCOME: Misdmeanor Conviction
My client, an officer for the Inspector General's office was at a local tavern with his friends. Another group of people were there celebrating a wedding. The other party had many very drunk young me ... n in it. My client was accosted by a person from the other party. He was able to brush the person off without further incident. Another man from the other party hit my client immediately afterwards. My client decided to leave the establishment. After he walked out another person (the victim) approached him. My client hit him one time. The "victim" fell to the ground striking his head. His injuries were very severe and required ICU hospitalization. The medical bills were extreme. My client was sued by the "victim" for his injuries. Eventually the case was disposed of for what is called a "finding of guilt" whereby no judicial admission is made (such as in a plea of guilty). And he was convicted of misdemeanor battery. The misdemeanor was crucial as my client's job was in jeopardy should he have been convicted of a felony.
OUTCOME: Suspension Rescinded
Mr. Eckemann was charged with a DUI after his car wrecked. He was taken to the hospital (non-trauma center) who sent him directly to a trauma hospital. There was no blood samples taken at the first h ... ospital. The State did not know that he had been taken to a different facility. Neither did the police officer. The officer issued a defective Notice of Suspension to my client. The notice was defective for multiple reasons. First, it was undated. Second, the officer mistakenly believed he was awaiting some form of toxicology report back from the hospital per subpoena. Lastly, he failed to give immediate notice to the defendant of the suspension. The State agreed with my assessment and rescinded the SSS. My client did not need to obtain a driving permit.