DuPage County Illinois Criminal Lawyer

Telemarketing Fraud – a White-Collar Crime

Mar 20 2013

Talking on the phone is such a natural process – some of our best conversations happen there. However, there are people out there who use the phone to scheme ways to get your hard earned money through telemarketing fraud – when you send money to people you do not know, give personal information or financial information to unknown callers.

There are many warning signs that, when you hear them, you know to say no and hang up the phone. From offers that need immediate attention to be valid, to winning a free gift, vacation or some other prize to which you need to pay only postage and handling. When they ask for payment right away, giving your credit card number, bank account number or waiting for someone to come over and pick your money up are all dangerous options. Recognize the immediate need for money as a sign! By agreeing to have someone come and pick up your money you will have no way to trace the company. Always make sure you get the salesperson’s name, business identity, phone number, street/mailing address and business license to make sure it is a legitimate business.

Some offers are obviously sketchy or fraudulent; if this particular charity states that you do not need to worry about researching them, understand they are more than likely trying to hide something. Stick to organizations and companies that you know, and stay away from ones you have never heard of. If you are unsure, ask for written information and/or references about the company – then wait for it to come and check it out with the Better Business Bureau or other similar protection agencies. Do not let their special offer entice you to act foolishly! You want to give yourself time to make wise financial decisions and that you understand fully. Talk to friends, family, or a financial adviser You never want to pay for something that is free – even if the company claims that you have good reason to. Once you have made a decision, pay when you get the service – not before.

If you feel you have information about a case of telemarketing fraud, report it to state, local or federal enforcement agencies. If you are in need of a lawyer who is familiar with this type of white collar crime in the Wheaton, IL area, contact an attorney right away.

Criminal defense / Juvenile Crime / Kathryn Harry & Associates —

Illinois commission advises to treat all 17 year-olds as juveniles

Mar 18 2013

The Quad City Times recently published an article stating that a juvenile justice advisory group recommended Illinois should stop automatically treating 17 year-olds who are charged with felonies as adults.

The 24-member advisory group issued its report after examining the impact of a 2010 change in state law. Until the change of the law, anyone older than 16 was treated as an adult, and had to go through the adult court system when charged with any type of crime.

In 2010, the General Assembly came to the conclusion that 17 year-olds who were charged with misdemeanors would go through the juvenile court system, whereas 17 year-old charged with felonies would be prosecuted as adults.

Illinois is one of only 12 states with a default age for treating criminal defendants as adults before they turn 18, according to commission reports.

The Illinois commission recommended that all 17 year-olds charged with crimes should be put through juvenile court systems. However, in the case of specific serious offenses they should be transferred to adult court. The commission stated that this was in “the interest of fairness and public safety.”

“Instead of drawing a wise, safe, or clear distinction between minor and serious offenses, the Illinois law splitting 17 year-olds between two court systems caused confusion, and jurisdictional questions still regularly arise when 17 year-olds are arrested,” the commission said.

Group chairman George Timberlake said in a statement, now that research demonstrates that the Illinois juvenile justice system “can manage the addition of 17 year-olds charged with felonies, it’s time to complete the reform.”

Many people are charged for different crimes every day. If you are a minor and have been charged with a crime, or if you are responsible for a minor who has been charged with a crime, do not hesitate to contact an experienced Illinois attorney as soon as possible. Your Illinois criminal defense lawyer will understand the laws and know the best way to defend your case whether you’re charged as a juvenile or as an adult.

Chicago criminal defense lawyer / Criminal defense / Drug crimes —

Three charged with drug-induced homicide in Madison County

Mar 15 2013

According to an article published by www.bnd.com, two more cases of drug-induced homicide have arisen in Madison County.

Tony Sellers was found dead outside the home of Robert J. Kirchner back in June. According to autopsy results, his death was due to a heroin overdose.

Kirchner, 40, is allegedly accused of buying heroin down in St. Louis and proceeding to deliver it to Sellers. According to Madison County police, Kirchner and three others then took Sellers’ body out of the house and left it in the back yard so as to disguise the cause of his death.

While Kirchner was charged with a felony of Class X drug-induced homicide, he also faces charges of multiple drug offenses and concealment of a homicidal death. The three other people who were involved and also charged were his wife, Vindi Kirchner, Janet Denson, and Scott Bourbon, all of Granite City.

In a completely unrelated case, both David Deforest Jr. and Debra Nelson face charges of drug-induced homicide in the death of Dylan Hartman, 19, who died of a drug overdose back in December.

Police say that Nelson sold liquid methadone to Deforest, who then gave it to Hartman. The two also face charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance; this is a Class 2 felony.

In both of these cases, the charges were not filed until toxicology reports were completed and returned.

Madison County state’s attorney, Tom Gibbons, said, “These two tragic deaths underscore the terrible cost of drug addiction and the suffering that it causes for families, friends and our whole community. With each death, we are reminded that there is still a lot of hard work to be done to rid Madison County and our entire region of these poisons.”

In the past few years in Madison County, there have been several drug-induced homicide cases filed. However, not all of these cases have resulted in convictions. Of six overdoses from 2011 resulting in homicide charges in 2012, five were dismissed or settled on lesser charges. It was ruled that the drug-induced homicide law does not apply in cases where drugs cross state boundaries.

According to Gibbons, in those cases the transfer of the drugs also took place in Missouri. In Kirchner’s case the drugs were purchased there as well but transferred to Illinois. Gibbons believes the laws should be changed because of the fact that many drug addicts buy their drugs in St. Louis and proceed to overdose in Illinois.

“I can’t speak for the legislature, but I know a bill was introduced on that. It’s something we’re still pushing for,” Gibbons said.

If you or someone you know has been convicted of a drug-related crime, contact a dedicated Illinois criminal defense lawyer to help you immediately.

Assault & Battery / Chicago criminal defense lawyer / Criminal defense —

Valentine’s Day Argument Leads to Woman Biting off Part of Boyfriend’s Tongue

Mar 11 2013

Valentine’s Day didn’t quite have a happy ending for one Skokie couple. Elaine Cook, 51, and her boyfriend of 10 months had gone out to dinner to celebrate the holiday, but got into an argument later in the evening back at the woman’s apartment.

According to a report in the Chicago Tribune, Cook told her boyfriend to leave the apartment. He put his shoes on and began to leave, but in an effort to end the fight and make-up, he went back over to her and tried to kiss her and she bit off a large portion of his tongue.

He ran over to the sink, bleeding and Cook allegedly threw the tongue on the counter. The 47 year-old man put the tongue in a bag of ice and Cook’s roommate called 911. Paramedics rushed the man to Evanston Hospital. Doctors were not able to reattach the tongue because of an inadequate blood supply.

Cook was arrested and charged with felony aggravated domestic battery. She is being held in lieu of $100,000 in bond court. Her boyfriend told the Tribune that he has been at the doctor’s every day, has several stitches in his mouth and has trouble sleeping. He told the paper that most of the right side of his tongue is now missing. During the interview, he said, “It makes me sick to my stomach that she’s sitting in jail right now, but it’s just out of my hands. I have to focus on getting better now.”

The Tribune also reported that during her arraignment, as the prosecutor described the incident to the police, Cook shook her head repeatedly, which leads one to believe that there is more to this story then has been yet reported. If you are accused of domestic battery, or any other serious crime, contact a qualified Illinois criminal defense attorney to make sure you have experienced counsel representing you.

Chicago criminal defense lawyer / DUI / DUI accident / Traffic Violations —

Man Faces DUI Charges for Killing a Pedestrian | Chicago Criminal Defense Lawyer

Mar 08 2013

Early Saturday morning, on February 16^th, a Chicago man was driving, while intoxicated, on an expired license, when he hit a group of pedestrians who were waiting to cross an intersection, according to the Chicago Tribune. Three people were struck; one was killed and the other two were seriously injured. The driver, Leroy Bobo, had a blood alcohol level that was double the legal limit. He will not only face multiple aggravated DUI charges but also counts on failure to report a fatal accident and driving on a suspended license.

At 12:45am, Bobo, 42, was driving through the Cragin neighborhood when his car hit a parked car and then swerved into the victims who were waiting at the crosswalk. One of the victims, Mario Ortego, 38, suffered a hard hit to the head and was pronounced dead a few hours later at Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center, according to records. The second victim, a 32-year-old woman, was brought to Loyola University Medical Center in critical condition and was treated for bleeding to the brain. The third victim, a 36-year-old was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center and was treated for a fractured hip.

After the accident occurred, Bobo continued to drive, and he slammed into another car at a red light. When police officers arrived on the scene, they found Bobo slamming on his accelerator trying to flee the scene. Bobo told police he had three glasses of Brandy and smoked marijuana before driving. The bond for Bobo is set at $500,000.

If you or someone you know has been charged with a DUI, be sure to hire an experienced Illinois Criminal Attorney. Don’t go through this alone; contact a DuPage County Illinois Criminal Lawyer today.

Criminal defense / felony / Violent Crime —

Wife Charged with First-Degree Murder for Stabbing Husband

Mar 05 2013

A 42 year-old Westmount woman has been charged with first-degree murder for stabbing her husband to death. Lisa Davis is currently being held on $2 million bail, accused of killing 49 year-old David Davis.

According to a report in the Chicago Tribune, Davis called 911 at 7:29 p.m. and reported that her husband had been stabbed. She allegedly told dispatchers that she was the one who stabbed him. When police arrived at the scene, they found David Davis bleeding from a knife wound to the right side of his stomach. He was still conscious when they got there and told he told police that it was his wife who stabbed him. Paramedics transferred to him Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove but died from his injuries at 11:36 p.m.

Police say that the couple had been involved in a verbal altercation and at some point during the argument, Davis grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed her husband with it. Lisa Davis told police she “stuck” her husband with a kitchen knife during the argument.

The couple had no children together. David Davis worked as a carpenter and Lisa Davis works in customer service. Police said there were no records of any prior domestic incident calls to the couple’s home.

In Illinois, a conviction of first-degree murder carries a penalty of life without parole or 20–60 years. If you have been charged with a serious crime, contact an experienced Illinois criminal attorney today to represent and defend you.

Criminal defense / Drug crimes / Kathryn Harry & Associates —

Bad Cops lead to Dropped Charges

Mar 02 2013

According to a recent report in the Chicago Tribune, 15 of 19 cases that were due to be brought before the court will now be dropped. The common thread in these cases is that they are all felony drug related cases that were all handled by the same three Schaumburg police officers.

These cases came under scrutiny after the three police officers were arrested for allegedly beginning their very own criminal enterprise utilizing money and drugs that they had previously stolen from other drug dealers. It is unclear at this point in time what exactly happened for the officers to be arrested.

The main concern of the Cook County prosecutor’s office is that not only are there charges that are now going to be dropped but that there may be several convictions that may be overturned as a result of these events. One prosecutor stated that now that it is in the open that these officers were running heir own drug dealing business, their testimony in court is not longer credible. This breach of credibility not only affects the cases that they were directly linked to, but it will also affect cases in neighboring cities and counties.

The officers were arrested by federal drug agents near the Woodfield mall. Ironically, this is the same area that they had made several arrests themselves.

In a criminal case where a breach of trust or an authoritative position is used in the commission of a crime, the charges as well as penalties can be multiplied. If you find yourself in a position where you have been charged with a felony of any kind, you need to have an aggressive and knowledgeable Illinois criminal defense attorney there to make sure that your rights are preserved. You also want to make sure that your best defense is presented before the court.

Criminal defense / felony / Kathryn Harry & Associates —

Chicago Cubs Player Proclaims Innocence in Kidnapping and Abuse Charges

Feb 28 2013

A 24-year-old Dominican woman has claimed that Chicago Cubs closer Carlos Marmol kidnapped and abused her. Marmol claims these accusations are false, and it is nothing more than an extortion attempt.

“The stuff that she says is not true, and I proved it,” he told the Chicago Tribune in this article. “It is about the money. The first thing, when they went to the police, they asked about money right away.”

On October 28, Marmol gave the woman a ride home from a party. He states that although he had never spoken to her before, they grew up in the same hometown so he knew who she was.

Theo Esptein says the Cubs support Marmol’s innocence, and his attorney has filed a counter suit to prove this was a blackmail attempt. According to Marmol, this type of extortion is common in the Dominican, as lawyers believe players can be easily blackmailed.

The case has been sent to a higher civil court, and Marmol may have to go back to the Dominican for the next hearing. Despite all the news coverage, Marmol refuses to let this impact his life or baseball career.

Marmol has been with the Chicago Cubs since 2006. This past off-season, he was almost traded to the Los Angeles Angels, but the deal fell through at the last minute. He stated he is very happy with this outcome. “Everyone knows I love the Cubs and I love being in Chicago,” he said. “I’m glad they didn’t make the trade.”

Being accused of any crime, be it a misdemeanor or felony count, can cause many complications in your life. If you’re facing any sort of criminal charge, speaking with a knowledgeable attorney may help minimize the possible repercussions. Contact our firm in Oakbrook Terrace today to get started on your defense.

Criminal defense / felony / Kathryn Harry & Associates —

Criminal Mistake in Cook County Releases Convicted Killer

Feb 25 2013

A family member passes away unexpectedly in a murder. Justice was thought to have prevailed, except you hear that the killer was released. You’re furious. Do you trust the law enforcement to rectify this situation? The first question to come to mind is “Why?” only to find out it is totally the fault of the people you are supposed to trust to enforce justice.

According to Yahoo! News, on January 30, 2013, convicted killer Steven L. Robbins, 44, was released after being accidentally brought to Cook County on a dismissed drug charges from 2007 that was still recorded as an active arrest warrant. His time in Indiana State Prison hardly over, serving a 60 year sentence for murder, he should have never left Indiana. The reason for this mix-up is a system of easy failure using paper as the means to record and report all information. This antiquated system is to blame because the shuffle of information was not easy to cross reference and check for updates. Unlike most other government agencies and businesses that use computers to keep track of everything, the Indiana State Prison relies on paper alone to disseminate information.

Luckily, the law enforcement caught on to this and searched him out. On February 1, 2013, Robbins was caught in a town home in Kankakee about 60 miles from Chicago. No resistance to the arrest and recapture, Robbins went back to Indiana State Prison that Saturday continuing his 60 year murder sentence.

Mistakes with arrests can happen to anyone. If you are in a predicament of law enforcement mistake, contact a criminal attorney today in the DuPage County area to find out your rights.

Criminal defense / felony / Gun charges —

Gun Issue Arises In 5 Year Old Boy Abduction and Hostage

Feb 23 2013

In the wake of the school shootings in Connecticut, people are in debate about gun issues on both sides. It seems more and more gun news appears by the week. The Second Amendment, where all citizens have the right to bear arms, seems to be in question over and over. Is it truly a right? Guns are not the problem, people who do not know how to handle their emotional and physical actions are to be blamed.

According to Yahoo! News, on Tuesday, January 29^th, 2013, 65 year old suspect Jimmy Lee Dykes, a loner Vietnam veteran, boarded a school bus with children. He proceeded to shoot the driver four times with a 9mm gun. After that he took a 5 year old kindergarten boy hostage for almost a week in a bunker. FBI and law enforcement tried their best to negotiate with the suspect to get the boy out of harm ways and back home. Monday, February 04, 2013, after 24 hours of trying with the looks of the situation not going the way they wanted, the FBI invaded the bunker. Officials said stun or flash grenades were used in the operation. After the situations, Dykes was dead and the little boy, unharmed, was released and freed.

Everyone can feel the pain for the bus driver’s family, the other students on the bus, and the little boy and his family in Midland City, Alabama. Such horrific events occurring to our most innocent citizens will cause a lifetime of damage and repair. Even in the community it will take time to heal. If you are in a situation where you need legal advice about a threat in your life, contact a criminal lawyer in Illinois who is a knowledgeable attorney.

Arrested? Being investigated?