Criminal Defense Lawyer Bloomington IL
If you were charged with a crime in McLean County, contact a Criminal Defense Lawyer Bloomington IL immediately.
Selecting The Best Criminal Defense Lawyer Bloomington IL Will Make A Big Difference In Your Case
The lead Criminal Defense Lawyer Bloomington IL at Koth Gregory & Nieminski (KGN) is William Gregory. Mr. Gregory is one of the best lawyers in McLean County. He has three decades of experience defending clients charged with criminal offenses. Mr. Gregory is a former prosecutor so he knows the arguments the other side will make and uses that experience to your advantage.
In addition to Mr. Gregory’s unique and extensive experience, many clients have chosen Mr. Gregory as their Criminal Defense Lawyer Bloomington IL because of the number of satisfied clients KGN has served and our convenient appointment scheduling.
1. Client Satisfaction. 80+ years combined experience. See Google Reviews/Testimonials.
2. Convenient Appointments. Office, zoom, or phone.
3. Attorney Fees. $300 initial consultation fee. Retainer fee discussed at the initial consult.
You can meet with our lead Criminal Defense Lawyer Bloomington IL by scheduling an appointment directly through our online calendar.
Ways A Criminal Defense Lawyer Bloomington IL Can Minimize The Charges And Consequences
There are several ways a good Criminal Defense Lawyer Bloomington IL can reduce or dismiss the charges and consequences of a criminal offense.
No Reasonable Suspicion
Illinois law requires the police to have reasonable suspicion that a crime has been committed before stopping someone. To convict someone of a crime, the prosecutor must first prove that the police officer had reasonable suspicion to stop the person accused of the crime. Thus, if you did not engage in any suspicious behavior, then the police may have stopped you improperly and the resulting evidence they discovered may be inadmissible. An experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer Bloomington IL can often get evidence thrown out if it is inadmissible because it was obtained without reasonable suspicion.
No Probable Cause
If the police charged you with a crime based on something they found in your car or house after conducting a search, then the prosecutor must also prove that the police officer had probable cause to search the car/house. Similar to the reasonable suspicion standard described above, this probable cause requirement gives a Criminal Defense Lawyer Bloomington IL the opportunity to argue that any evidence found during the search is inadmissible, and thus should not be considered.
Missing Evidence
If the police are missing video from the stop or search, your Criminal Defense Lawyer Bloomington IL can also raise this as a defense to cast doubt on the allegations against you.
The best criminal defense lawyers in McLean County know how to obtain and analyze evidence to form a strong defense for you.
However, when the evidence against the accused person is overwhelming, even the most experienced criminal defense lawyer Bloomington IL may not be able to build a solid defense. When this is the case, the strategy must change.
What To Do If The Evidence Against You Is Overwhelming
If you committed the criminal offense being charged against you and the evidence against you is overwhelming, your criminal defense lawyer Bloomington IL should advise you of the obstacles in your case and encourage you to take a plea deal. Prosecutors may be willing to reduce the charges against a criminal defendant if the accused person is willing to plead guilty to the less severe offense without going to trial.
If You Were Charged With A Crime, Koth Gregory & Nieminski Can Protect You
KGN has significant experience reducing and dismissing the charges and consequences of criminal offenses. KGN also is very good at understanding when the evidence against the accused person is overwhelming and can provide good advice about when to pursue a plea deal instead of going to trial.
Early Warning Signs
There may be signs or you may even receive advance notice that you could face a criminal charge before being arrested. It is not unusual for law enforcement to attempt to communicate with you prior to getting an arrest warrant. Also, you may be served with a warrant to allow law enforcement to search your premises. In the event that you are facing any type of criminal charge, it is in your best interest to contact a knowledgeable Criminal Defense Lawyer Bloomington IL as soon as you can.
The beginning stage is critical in any criminal case – and it is essential that you talk to a lawyer who knows the McLean County court system, fights aggressively for your rights, and presents an effective defense in your case. If you don’t have the advantage of an early alert and law enforcement arrests you, it becomes even more critical that you promptly hire a lawyer. A Criminal Defense Lawyer Bloomington IL can help even before you try to post bail.
First Steps After Hiring A Lawyer – Bail, Obtaining Information, & Strategizing
Your lawyer can start accessing information on your case, work to get a bail reduction, and inform you about your rights. There are some cases where bail can be eliminated completely, but the laws surrounding bail for your type of case may have changed recently so consult with your criminal defense lawyer Bloomington IL to understand the current law for the offense charged against you.
Why Hiring A Private Lawyer Is Better Than A Public Defender
Generally, you won’t be able to talk to a public defender before making your first appearance in court. Unfortunately, that could be days or even weeks following your arrest. Speaking to a public defender on the first day of a court appearance does not permit much time to prepare and review your case. This is obviously not in your best interest.
There are many possible errors that people make prior to this stage, like making statements that are self-incriminating to a representative of law enforcement. A mistake like that can have potentially significant consequences and could be avoided with the guidance of a lawyer who is experienced in criminal law. Because the courts are so busy, a public defender may not be very familiar with any relevant information regarding your case. You might immediately get the feeling that your case is simply another file moving through the system.
Although many public defenders will provide competent legal representation, quite frequently they don’t have the resources or time to establish a defense that is truly effective. They may have just one investigator who likely devotes their time toward the most serious cases.
In addition, the court appoints your public defender, so you don’t get to choose who represents you. It is also difficult to switch to a different public defender if you are not satisfied with the one chosen for you.
Contact Us – Best Criminal Defense Lawyers In Bloomington-Normal IL
Fortunately, you may always make the decision to change from representation by a public defender to a private Criminal Defense Lawyer Bloomington IL. The most effective way you can control your legal defense is through hiring a knowledgeable, experienced lawyer who focuses on criminal defense. Our law firm has significant resources, can consult with experts in the relevant fields, and has legal researchers and investigators ready to serve our clients.
The potential results of any criminal conviction on your record can be significant and last for many years. It is essential that criminal lawyers understand the stakes their clients face in criminal cases, which includes their prospects for employment as well as their family situation. Your Criminal Defense Lawyer Bloomington IL should do their best to serve your interests and protect your rights rather than view you as just another case. Meet with a Criminal Defense Lawyer Bloomington IL today by scheduling an appointment directly through our online calendar.
DUI (Driving Under The Influence)
Whether you allegedly were driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you should contact a DUI Lawyer Bloomington IL as soon as possible. The consequences of a DUI vary considerably depending on whether you are a first time offender versus a repeat offender, the level of intoxication, whether someone was injured, and whether your words or actions were incriminating.
As a general rule, it is best if you follow these guidelines:
1. Politely decline to do the field sobriety test.
2. Do NOT say anything other than politely complying with the police offer’s requests.
3. If you think your BAC will be below .08, it will benefit you to take the breathalyzer test to prove your innocence.
You are presumed to be over .08 if you refuse to take the breathalyzer, but whether to take the test is a difficult decision because people are often wrong about the level of their impairment. If you can reach a criminal defense lawyer Bloomington IL before taking the test, that would be ideal so they can guide you through the process.
Drug Charges
If you were charged with possession or distribution of a controlled substance, hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer Bloomington IL. KGN has helped numerous clients defend drug charges involving cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, crack, methamphetamine (meth), and other illegal drugs.
If you are convicted of possession of a controlled substance, the penalties can be severe. The consequences of a conviction for distribution are even more serious, especially for higher quantities.
No one wants to face jail time. Plus, a misdemeanor or felony drug conviction can stay on your record for years and make it very difficult to obtain employment. Any assets or property believed to have been obtained with the windfall of illegal drug activity are subject to potential seizure as well.
The consequences for drug convictions are severe. Thus, it is essential to hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer Bloomington IL to get you the best outcome.
Other Misdemeanors & Felonies
If you have been charged with one of the following offenses, contact a Criminal Defense Lawyer Bloomington IL today by scheduling an appointment directly through our online calendar.
• DUI (Driving Under The Influence Of Alcohol Or Drugs)
• – Assault
– Criminal Trespass to Vehicles
– Deceptive Practices
– Disorderly Conduct
– Harassment by Telephone
– Interfering With the Reporting of Domestic Violence
– Obscenity
– Public Indecency
– Reckless Conduct
– Resisting or Obstructing a Police Officer
– Retail Theft
– Theft
– Violation of an Order of Protection
– Aggravated Arson
– Battery
– Criminal Damage to Property
– Criminal Defacement to Property
– Criminal Trespass to Property
– Financial
– Possession of Hypodermic Needles
• Aggravated Arson • Financial Identity Theft • Aggravated Battery • Forgery • Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm • Hate Crime • Aggravated Financial Identity • Home Invasion • Aggravated Unlawful Restraint • Kidnapping • Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon • Perjury • Aggravated Stalking • Possession of Burglary Tools • Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking • Possession of a Controlled Substance (PCS) • Armed Robbery • Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Distribute
• Possession of Cannabis with the Intent to Distribute • Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle (PSMV) • Vehicular Hijacking • Burglary of Stolen Property • Defacing Identification Marks of Firearms • Reckless Discharge of a Firearm • Delivery of a Controlled Substance within 1000 Feet of a School or Church • Residential Burglary • Drug Conspiracy • Robbery • Drug Trafficking • Stalking • Escape • Unlawful Possession of Firearms and Firearm Ammunition • Felony Deceptive Practices • Unlawful Purchase of a Firearm • Felony DUI/DWI Offenses • Unlawful Restraint • Unlawful Use of Weapons (UUW)
• Felony Probation Violations • Unlawful Use of Weapons by Felons or Persons in Custody of the Department of Corrections • Felony Traffic Violations • Theft • Felony Theft
• Sexual Assault
• Attempted Murder
• Involuntary Manslaughter
• Manslaughter
• Murder
Schedule an appointment with a Criminal Defense Lawyer Bloomington IL.