Champaign Criminal Defense blog

September 18th, 2021

How to Beat a DUI

You thought you were driving just fine. The traffic cop currently on your tail begs to differ. You completely flubbed the field sobriety test, and you just blew a .09 BAC on the Breathalyzer. Now what? You’re in big trouble, and it will go from bad to worse very quickly unless you get the highly...

Criminal Defense

January 15th, 2017

Four Chicago residents accused of hate crime

Four people were charged with hate crimes, kidnapping, aggravated battery, and aggravated lawful restraint on Thursday, January 5 in relation to a video posted on Facebook that showed them assaulting a man. Authorities said they found the disoriented victim wandering the streets and were able to surmise that the assault had gone on for hours. The...

Murder

January 12th, 2017

Gang rap videos used in murder trial still questionable

Champaign County Judge Tom Difanis issued a ruling that two violent gang rap videos cannot be used as “substantive evidence” in the defense of 18-year-old Champaign, Illinois resident Shamario Brown. Brown was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated discharge of a firearm, leading the judge to say the videos can be used to discredit the...

Criminal Defense

December 15th, 2016

Former congressman Aaron Schock pleads not guilty to felony charges

Thirty-five-year-old former Representative Aaron Schock (Republican of Illinois) has maintained his innocence ever since federal prosecutors charged him with 24-count indictment in November, pleading not guilty last Monday, December 12 to two dozen counts of felony corruption, including wire and mail fraud, stealing government funds, filing false tax returns, and falsifying federal campaign forms. Federal...

Criminal Defense

December 7th, 2016

Fourth suspect in U.S. Cellular in Dixon robbery arrested

A fourth suspect, in connection to an armed robbery at a store of telecommunications company U.S. Cellular in Dixon, Illinois, was taken into police custody. The robbery happened at the Keul Road store on Thursday, November 10 around 7:30 p.m. Reports showed that three individuals who were wearing masks and who were carrying handguns infiltrated...

Criminal Defense

December 2nd, 2016

Man charged with drug possession can face up to 30 years in jail

Juvon Mays, 35, is facing up to 30 years of imprisonment on charges of possession with intent to deliver both heroin and cannabis. The Champaign, Illinois man will face sentencing by Judge Heidi Ladd on Wednesday, December 21. Mays’ trial began on Monday, November 14. During a raid on the house where Mays was arrested, police...

Criminal Defense

November 15th, 2016

Former U.S. congressman Aaron Schock receives indictment on two criminal counts

Thirty-five-year-old former United States Representative Aaron Schock (Republican of Illinois) once had a $5,000 chandelier attached to his government office, cementing the rumors that he loved the good and expensive life. In a sweeping 24-count grand jury indictment given to him on Thursday, November 10 in Springfield, prosecutors constructed in detail the circumstances in which...

Criminal Defense

November 12th, 2016

Illinois state trooper convicted of misconduct and bribery

A jury in Vermilion County, Illinois deliberated for two hours last Tuesday, November 8 before finding 46-year-old Westville resident Keith Lumsargis, an Illinois state trooper, guilty of official misconduct and bribery. Lumsargis, who worked for the state police for 13 years, was taken into police custody in May 2014 at the Possum Trot restaurant in Oakwood after treating...

Murder

November 2nd, 2016

Jury selection for Des Plaines man accused of attempted murder now underway

Jury selection for the trial of 20-year-old Des Plaines resident Daniel Dion began last Monday, October 31. Dion made a not guilty plea by reason of insanity to attempted murder charges in relation to allegedly stabbing and critically wounding a 24-year-old Vernon Hills woman outside the Century Theater in Deer Park. Although the burden of...

DUI Defense

October 27th, 2016

Man charged with DUI after accident causes death to woman and unborn son

Normal, Illinois resident Lance Pitsch, 27, was charged with aggravated driving under the influence that resulted in death and reckless homicide in Christian County. The charges come after he caused a vehicular accident on Illinois 48 near County Road 600 North in Morrisonville at approximately 3:20 p.m. on Friday, October 21. The crash resulted in...

« Previous 1 2 3 4 … 24 Next »