This is the next post in my series on the handling of misdemeanor charges in Peoria, Illinois. My last article discussed the handling of child endangerment charges. It is crucial that one take the matter seriously when accused of such an offense. Failing to do so can result in criminal penalties and, just as important, will likely result in child custody proceedings in Family Court. By retaining an attorney, one can make sure that their rights remain protected. In this article, I will discuss another important topic – what to expect when misdemeanor charges are brought concurrently with felony accusations. If you find yourself in such a situation then it is important that you speak with an attorney as soon as possible. Contact my office today to speak with a lawyer.
Many defendants are surprised by the number of criminal charges which can be brought out of one interaction. It is not uncommon for an accused individual to receive a criminal complaint which contains multiple felony accusations and well as misdemeanor charges. If such a complaint is brought, then the accused will defend against all of the charges at once in the same proceeding. In the event of a conviction, the Judge may possibly require a defendant to serve consecutive sentences. This would mean that the time for one charge must be fully served before any time would be counted towards the additional charges. While it can be common for courts to run felony sentences consecutively, as a practical matter it is infrequent that a misdemeanor conviction would be run consecutively to a felony charge.
The foregoing concepts are best explained by way of example. Suppose an individual breaks into a house to steal various items from inside. The individual loads a television into his car and speeds away. While driving, the individual is weaving in and out of traffic in a way that shows reckless disregard for the public. Police officers stop the individual. Upon searching the suspect, they find a misdemeanor level amount of marijuana on his person. The individual is arrested and the stolen television is taken into evidence. Under this scenario, the accused would likely face at least two felony charges. The first would be for felony burglary and the second would be for the theft of the television. Also, the defendant would likely face misdemeanor charges for both reckless driving and possessing an excessive amount of marijuana. As mentioned above, all of these charges would be handled in one proceeding.
If you or a loved one are facing combined felony and misdemeanor charges then it is vital that you take the matter seriously. Retaining an experienced criminal defense attorney can be crucial. I am a former prosecutor who is familiar with the workings of our local court systems. My office understands the serious nature of such situations and we will give your case the attention it deserves. Contact us today to speak with a Peoria lawyer. I also serve the counties of Fulton, Knox, LaSalle, Marshall, Mason, McLean, Putnam, Rock Island, Schuyler, Stark, Tazewell, and Woodford. I also handle federal cases in Urbana.