THE NEW ILLINOIS LAW ON FALSE IMPERSONATION

Posted on January 23, 2012 by admin

As of January 1, 2012, Illinois toughened its law against false impersonations.

In Illinois, it was already illegal to impersonate a police officer, firefighter, emergency management worker, veteran, parent/legal guardian or airplane pilot. (See related Post: “Impersonating Public Officials: Big Trouble.)

The new law is expanded to include impersonating ordinary people, not just those in special categories such as police officers. You may be charged with a Class A Misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine if you falsely impersonate someone in order to defraud, injure, threaten, intimidate or obtain a benefit.

Also, under the new law, you don’t have to do your impersonating face to face. Pretending to be someone you’re not via a website or other electronic communication, such as texting, is a crime.

State Senator Ira Silverstein of Chicago introduced the updated law. State Senator Sid Matthias of Buffalo Grove, a sponsor, said the law would help address public safety issues created by advancing internet technologies.

While it was also already a crime to impersonate an attorney, a public official or employee, the new law allows a judge or jury to infer that you are guilty if you wore an official or employee’s badge or uniform or if you otherwise expressed that you were acting under a public agency’s approval when you were not.

If you are charged with False Personation, contact an experienced criminal law attorney immediately. As with most criminal offenses, the State must prove you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Did you have the intent required by the law? Maybe you were just playing a joke and did not mean to intimidate or defraud. Are the state’s witnesses prepared to testify? Even if the evidence is pretty clearly against you, an experienced attorney may be able to negotiate a better plea agreement than you might on your own.

As with any crime, do not discuss your case with the police or anyone else. Any statements you make can be used against you and may complicate your defense.

If you have questions about this or another related criminal or traffic matter, please contact Matt Keenan at 847-568-0160 or email matt@mattkeenanlaw.com.

(Besides Skokie, Matt Keenan also serves the communities of Arlington Heights, Chicago, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Evanston, Glenview, Morton Grove, Mount Prospect, Niles, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Rolling Meadows, Wilmette and Winnetka.)

Posted in false impersonation, false personation, impersonating an officer | Leave a comment

“BUT I DIDN’T TOUCH ANYBODY!:” THE ILLINOIS LAW ON ASSAULT

Posted on January 11, 2012 by admin

You were really mad at your teacher. Without thinking, you threw a fist like you were going to hit him. But then someone called the police, and now you are charged with aggravated assault.

What can you do? What is an assault, and what are the penalties?
In Illinois, you commit assault when you cause someone to reasonably believe you are going to make physical contact with them. Instead, a battery is when you actually do. (See our related post on battery at http://www.skokiecriminallawyer.com/2011/10/illinois-aggravated-battery-law.html.) Simple assault is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $1,500 fine. In addition, the court must order you to perform community service for at least 30 and no more than 120 hours.

Under certain circumstances, assault can be upgraded to an aggravated offense. Aggravation can be based on how you were conducting the assault. Were you threatening someone with a weapon? Were you hooded or masked and/or pretending to use a gun? Were you firing a gun from a car? Were you using your car to make the threat? Were you flashing a laser attached to a gun at someone?

A second factor for aggravation involves the type of person you were assaulting. Did you go after a teacher or a sports official or a utility worker? Was the person a government investigator, a peace officer, emergency worker, probation officer or prison employee, a bus or a train driver? Was the person elderly or disabled? Was the person a process server who was attempting to serve a legal summons?

For the most part, aggravated assault is a Class A Misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine. However, if firearms are involved, you may be charged with a Class 4 Felony, punishable by 1 to 3 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. It is also a Class 4 felony, if you assault a correctional officer, probation officer or other government official. As of this year, it is a class 4 felony to assault a process server.

If you are charged with any assault, you should contact an experienced criminal law attorney immediately to discuss your case. Do not make statements to the police or third parties. Do not text or email about your situation or post it on Facebook. Any statements you make can be used against you and can undermine your defense.

As with most offenses, the State of Illinois must prove you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. An experienced criminal law attorney can look for weaknesses in the state’s case. Did you have a legal justification for the assault such as self defense? Did the victim have a reasonable apprehension that you were going to hit them? Maybe you were just flailing your arms and didn’t even realize they were there.

Even if the evidence is pretty clear that you were intentionally threatening to harm someone, all is not lost. An attorney who is respected by the court may be able to work out a better plea negotiation than you could on your own.

If you have questions about this or another related criminal or traffic matter, please contact Matt Keenan at 847-568-0160 or email matt@mattkeenanlaw.com.

(Besides Skokie, Matt Keenan also serves the communities of Arlington Heights, Chicago, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Evanston, Glenview, Morton Grove, Mount Prospect, Niles, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Rolling Meadows, Wilmette and Winnetka.)

Posted in aggravated assault, aggravated battery, assault, class 4 felony, class a misdemeanor, class c misdemeanor | Leave a comment

CAN THE POLICE USE LICENSE READING CAMERAS TO CATCH CRIMINALS? IN ONE ILLINOIS COMMUNITY, THEY ALREADY ARE

Posted on November 28, 2011 by admin

Your mobile phone isn’t the only thing getting more technologically sophisticated. So too are police crime-fighting techniques. In October, the Belleville, Illinois police department began catching criminals by using an automated camera to read license plates.

The $17,000 automated license reader is placed on top of an unmarked car. As drivers pass by, the reader checks for matches against plates associated with arrest warrants or other criminal activity. When a match is found, nearby officers move in for the arrest.

In its first four hours, the Belleville reader captured seven local and eight out-of-state warrants, led to 56 stops and one arrest for violating an order of protection.

From a civil liberty point of view, this new use of technology is pretty alarming. A casual trip to the mall can turn into a trip to jail even if you did not give police probable cause to stop you.
If you are stopped because of a camera, what can you do?

As with any police stop, the less said the better. If you are taken into police custody, you should specifically say “I wish to remain silent and I want an attorney,” in order to trigger your Miranda rights (or the officers can keep questioning you). Any attempt to explain yourself could unwittingly give police the evidence they need to convict you.

If you are arrested, you should contact an experienced criminal law attorney immediately. Even if an automated reader made it easier to catch you, the state must still prove you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. An experienced attorney can probe for weaknesses in the state’s case in hopes of winning a dismissal. Even if the evidence against you is overwhelming, the attorney may be able to obtain a better plea bargain for you than you could get on your own.

If you have questions about this or another related criminal or traffic matter, please contact Matt Keenan at 847-568-0160 or email matt@mattkeenanlaw.com.

(Besides Skokie, Matt Keenan also serves the communities of Arlington Heights, Chicago, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Evanston, Glenview, Morton Grove, Mount Prospect, Niles, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Rolling Meadows, Wilmette and Winnetka.)

Posted in arrest, arrest warrant, automated camera, traffic stop, vehicle search | Leave a comment

ILLINOIS AGGRAVATED BATTERY LAW

Posted on October 17, 2011 by admin

In Illinois, you commit simple battery if you knowingly, without legal justification, physically hurt another person or cause contact of an offensive nature, such as grabbing at them. Simple battery is a Class A Misdemeanor, punishable by up to 1 year in jail.

But there is a whole host of ways in which simple battery can be upgraded to a more serious aggravated battery charge. Aggravation can be based on the type of injury, the type of victim or the place of the offense. Charges can range from a Class 3 to a Class X Felony with a penalty range of 3 to 60 years in prison. If guns are involved, you could face a minimum prison term of 20 years and have up to 25 years added to any sentence if you harmed a child under the age of 13.

You can be upgraded to aggravated battery if you knowingly strangle someone or cause great bodily harm, disfigurement or severe and permanent disability. This includes injury from a bomb, flammable gas, poison or throwing a caustic substance such as lye at someone.

Even if the injury was not severe, aggravation can be based on the victim’s status. It is aggravated battery to harm a child, mentally retarded or handicapped person, pregnant woman, senior citizen over age 60 or a teacher. The charge is also enhanced if you harm a State of Illinois or school district official, police officer, firefighter, community policing volunteer, prison official or security guard when they are performing their duties or if you are retaliating against them because of those duties. Persons protected also include taxi drivers while on duty or a merchant detaining you for retail theft. And as of January 1, 2014, the Illinois legislature added nurses in the performance of their duties to the list.

You can be charged with aggravated battery if the offense took place in a public place, a sports venue or a domestic violence shelter.

There are also enhanced penalties for shooting someone with a gun or machine gun.

If you are charged with battery or a similar offense, contact a criminal law attorney immediately. Do not speak to the police or anyone else about your situation either orally or by electronic media such as texting or Facebook. Just like in the cop shows, anything you say may be used against you. A criminal law attorney can carefully review the law and the evidence against you to help devise the best strategy for your defense. Maybe you were acting in self defense. Maybe the firefighter you hurt was off duty.

Even if the evidence is overwhelming, an experienced attorney may to negotiate a better plea agreement than you could on your own.

If you have questions about this or another related criminal or traffic matter, please contact Matt Keenan at 847-568-0160 or email matt@mattkeenanlaw.com

(Besides Skokie, Matt Keenan also serves the communities of Arlington Heights, Chicago, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Evanston, Glenview, Morton Grove, Mount Prospect, Niles, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Rolling Meadows, Wilmette and Winnetka.)

Posted in aggravated assault, aggravated battery, Class 1 Felony, Class 2 felony, Class 3 felony, class 4 felony, Class X Felony | Leave a comment

“I HIT A COP!:” AGGRAVATED ASSAULT OR AGGRAVATED BATTERY TO AN OFFICER IN ILLINOIS

Posted on October 13, 2011 by admin

You must have been really drunk because you don’t remember what happened. But apparently, you went berserk and hit a police officer. The officer even ended up in the emergency room. Now, you are charged with aggravated battery.

What is the law? What can you do?

In Illinois, you can be charged with aggravated assault if you knowingly cause a police officer to reasonably fear that you are going to cause bodily harm while the officer is performing their duties. For example, maybe you threatened to hit the officer or you pointed a gun at them. Aggravated assault is a Class A Misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine. If you used a gun, blackjack, shotgun or other weapon in threatening the officer, you can be charged with a Class 4 Felony, punishable by 1 to 3 years in jail.

If you actually harm the officer or make contact of an insulting nature such as grabbing at them, you can be charged with aggravated battery. If you did not cause great bodily harm, disfigurement or permanent disability, the charge is a Class 2 Felony, punishable by 3 to 7 years. If the police officer was seriously harmed, you can face a Class 1 Felony, punishable by 4 to 15 years. If you hurt the officer while shooting a gun, you are now eligible for a Class X felony, with a mandatory minimum prison term of 15 years. If you used a machine gun, the minimum prison term increases to 20 years.

As you can imagine, prosecutors and judges take attacks on police officers very seriously, but your situation may not be hopeless.

If you are charged with aggravated assault or aggravated battery to an officer, contact an experienced criminal law attorney immediately. As with other crimes, the State must still prove you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. An attorney can help review your options for a defense. For example, Illinois law requires that you knew the person was an officer and that they were engaged in their official duties. If the officer was off duty or in plain clothes, you may have a defense.

Even if the evidence against you is overwhelming, an experienced attorney, familiar with the judge and prosecutors, may be able to negotiate a more beneficial plea bargain than you could on your own.

If you have questions about this or another related criminal or traffic matter, please contact Matt Keenan at 847-568-0160 or email matt@mattkeenanlaw.com

(Besides Skokie, Matt Keenan also serves the communities of Arlington Heights, Chicago, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Evanston, Glenview, Morton Grove, Mount Prospect, Niles, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Rolling Meadows, Wilmette and Winnetka.)

Posted in aggravated assault, aggravated battery, aggravated battery of an officer, assault, battery, Class 1 Felony, class a misdemeanor, Class X Felony | Leave a comment

IMPERSONATING PUBLIC OFFICIALS: BIG TROUBLE

Posted on October 8, 2011 by admin

Pretending to be someone you are not may bring you applause on stage and screen, but in real life, impersonation can be a serious criminal offense.

Illinois prohibits impersonating a police officer, firefighter, emergency management worker, attorney, veteran, parent/legal guardian or airplane pilot. The State takes these offenses so seriously that some laws were toughened in 2006 with unanimous House legislative approval in response to a Chicago Sun-Times series reporting that more than 1,000 police impersonations had taken place in Illinois within a three year period.

In Illinois, falsely and knowingly impersonating a peace officer is a Class 4 felony, punishable by 1 to 3 years in jail and a $25,000 fine. Besides police, a peace officer includes U.S. Marshals, Internal Revenue Service, postal service, drug enforcement and immigration employees. If you were using a vehicle with flashing or oscillating lights, the charge is upgraded to a Class 2 felony, punishable by 3 to 7 years and a $25,000 fine. If you were carrying a deadly weapon, the charge is a Class 3 felony, punishable by 2 to 5 years and a $25,000 fine. If you were engaged in a felony, you could be charged with Aggravated False Personation of a Peace Officer, a Class 1 or Class 2 felony, depending on the nature of the crime. The impersonation charge would be in addition to any charges brought for the underlying felony.

Even duplicating a law officer’s badge is illegal. You can be charged with a Class A Misdemeanor, punishable by up to 1 year and $2,500 for making, selling or distributing false law enforcement badges, unless they are used for a memento or collection, exhibition, decoration or dramatic purpose such as for a play.

Impersonating a firefighter is also a Class 4 felony, upgraded to a Class 3 if you were carrying a deadly weapon and to a Class 2 for Aggravated Personation if you were committing a felony at the time.

Impersonating an emergency management or American Red Cross worker is a Class 4 felony, unless you were engaged in a felony, in which case it is Aggravated Personation and a Class 3 felony.

Anyone who pretends to be a pilot, airline employee or a contractor to gain access to restricted areas of the airport can be charged with a Class 4 felony. Impersonating an attorney is also a Class 4, while falsely presenting yourself as a parent or legal guardian to a public or school official is a Class A Misdemeanor.

If you were thinking that pretending you are a veteran will help you get a job, you could be charged with a Class A Misdemeanor.

If you are charged with impersonation, contact an experienced criminal law attorney immediately for help. Do not discuss your case with the police or anyone else. Any statements you make can be used against you and may complicate your defense. Remember, the state must prove you are guilty of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. An experienced criminal law attorney can review your situation for weaknesses in the state’s case and help devise the best possible strategy for your defense.
If you have questions about this or another related criminal or traffic matter, please contact Matt Keenan at 847-568-0160 or email matt@mattkeenanlaw.com

(Besides Skokie, Matt Keenan also serves the communities of Arlington Heights, Chicago, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Evanston, Glenview, Morton Grove, Mount Prospect, Niles, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Rolling Meadows, Wilmette and Winnetka.)

Posted in Class 1 Felony, Class 2 felony, Class 3 felony, class 4 felony personation of a police officer, class a misdemeanor, impersonation of public official, personation of a fire fighter | Leave a comment

BIGGER TROUBLE: FLEEING AND ELUDING POLICE IN ILLINOIS

Posted on September 21, 2011 by admin

You’ve seen it in all the cop shows. The police take off on a high speed chase after the fugitive. Of course, you never dreamed you would be starring in your own action movie, but when you saw the police, you just panicked.

So, what exactly is fleeing and eluding an officer, and what can happen to you?

In Illinois, you can be charged with a Class A Misdemeanor, punishable by jail time of up to one year and losing your license for up to six months, if you flee or attempt to elude a police officer. (625 ILCS 5/11-204.) If you are charged with aggravated fleeing, the penalties are even stiffer. Aggravated fleeing is a Class 4 felony, punishable by one to three years in jail, your license could be revoked and your car seized. (625 ILCS 5/11-204.1.) If this is a second or higher offense, the penalties increase.

And all this is on top of whatever other crime you may have committed. Plus, you may be convicted for fleeing and eluding even if the underlying offense is dropped.

To flee and elude, you must have received a visual or audible signal by a uniformed officer directing you to stop. If the officer is in their police car, they must activate their lights as well as their siren. If you willfully fail to pull over or you speed up or turn out your lights, you could be convicted.

Fleeing and eluded is upgraded to an aggravated offense if you speed more than 21 miles over the limit, cause bodily harm to a person, cause more than $300 in property damage or run more than two traffic control signals.

If you are charged with fleeing and eluding as with any other offense, you should contact an experienced criminal law attorney immediately. The attorney can assist at your bail hearing to petition the judge to set a reasonable bond. An attorney can also analyze your case to present your best possible defense. As with any offense, the state has the burden of proving the elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Did the officer properly signal? Was he or she in uniform? Did they properly activate their lights and siren? Did you know they were trying to pull you over?

Even if the evidence against you is overwhelming, an attorney can help negotiate a better plea bargain than you might receive on your own.

As with any other criminal offense, do not make statements to the officer or any third party about your case. Attempting to explain yourself might end up giving the prosecution exactly the evidence needed to convict. Do not talk about your case on any social media such as texting, email or Facebook. The prosecutor could get copies of your statements and use them against you.

If you have questions about this or another related criminal or traffic matter, please contact Matt Keenan at 847-568-0160 or email matt@mattkeenanlaw.com

(Besides Skokie, Matt Keenan also serves the communities of Arlington Heights, Chicago, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Evanston, Glenview, Morton Grove, Mount Prospect, Niles, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Rolling Meadows, Wilmette and Winnetka.)

Posted in class 4 felony, class a misdemeanor, eluding police, fleeing the scene, fugitive | Leave a comment

I HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH A CRIME IN ILLINOIS:. COULD I GO TO JAIL?

Posted on September 14, 2011 by admin

We hear this question from clients all the time. Naturally, if you are charged with a crime, the prospect of serving time is frightening. Whether you will be sentenced to jail, however, depends on a variety of factors. The good news is that while many crimes carry possible prison sentences, courts frequently do not impose jail time for misdemeanor first-time offenders.

In Illinois, beginning with a Class C Misdemeanor, you can be sentenced for up to 30 days in jail. A Class B Misdemeanor carries a possible 6 months penalty, and Class A can mean confinement for up to a year. In Cook County, if you are a first time misdemeanor offender, it is highly unlikely that you will receive any jail time. Instead, you may have to take classes, pay a fine or do community service.

On a second offense, however, your chances of jail time increase substantially, but even then, your sentence depends on the nature of the offense, your background and the judge. An experienced attorney can present your case to the judge in the most favorable light, highlighting positive facts about your background. In some cases, the attorney can still successfully negotiate a plea agreement where you would perform community service, receive treatment and/or pay fines in lieu of jail time.

For a first time DUI with no injuries, there is a strong possibility that you will not serve time in jail. For a second DUI offense, your chances of a jail sentence increase substantially, but even then it depends on the circumstances of your case. If you are driving on a suspended license due to an underlying alcohol-related offense, Illinois law does require jail time, although you may be able to do community service instead of jail on a first offense.

Felonies are punishable by at least one year in state prison. Felony offenses range from Class 1 to Class X, with Class X being the most severe. Class X felonies are punishable by a minimum of 6 years. Your chances of receiving jail time are much greater than with a misdemeanor, but you may be eligible for probation under certain limited circumstances.

If you violate a sentence of supervision or probation, you have a very high risk of receiving jail time, and you should contact an attorney immediately. Showing up for a violation hearing without legal counsel sounds a signal to the judge that you are not taking the process seriously. In cases of this sort, it is not unusual for judges to conclude that only a trip to county jail will help you focus on your problem.

In all cases, you should consult an experienced criminal law attorney immediately to discuss the best strategy for your situation. Depending on your particular circumstances, an attorney may succeed in getting your case dismissed, such as through a motion to quash a search due to inadequate probable cause. An attorney can also help determine if your case is winnable at trial.

If you have questions about this or another related criminal or traffic matter, please contact Matt Keenan at 847-568-0160 or email matt@mattkeenanlaw.com.

(Besides Skokie, Matt Keenan also serves the communities of Arlington Heights, Chicago, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Evanston, Glenview, Morton Grove, Mount Prospect, Niles, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Rolling Meadows, Wilmette and Winnetka.)

Posted in driving on a suspended license, dui, felony, jail time, misdemeanor, sentencing, violation of probation, violation of supervision | Leave a comment

PARDON ME!: CLEMENCY PETITIONERS NOW HAVE A CHANCE IN ILLINOIS

Posted on September 8, 2011 by admin

It’s tough enough to find a job these days. The last thing you need on your record is that felony shoplifting hit you took for stealing that expensive dress or that domestic violence misunderstanding where you pled to supervision. Crimes such as these may not qualify for expungement, a process where your record is wiped clean. You may not even be eligible for sealing, a process where only law enforcement can see your record.

So what’s left? Your last chance at a clean start may be to apply for a pardon. Luckily, in Illinois, that just got easier.

Under former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, clemency petitions sat gathering dust in state file drawers. One group of petitioners even sued the governor for taking too long to address their cases, in some instances as long as five years without a response. (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92905086) Add to that, between 2003 and 2008, Blagojevich granted only 67 pardons, while denying 1,160. (http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-06-23/news/0806230096_1_pardon-clemency-petitions-executive-clemency)

But Governor Pat Quinn has been actively working through a 2,500 case backlog, and at least one-third of those petitioners have had cause to celebrate. As of September 2, 2011, Governor Quinn pardoned 591 out of 1529 clemency petitioners.

To apply for a pardon, you must complete a Petition for Executive Clemency with the Illinois State Prisoner Review Board, and you may need to request a hearing. In the Petition, you will need to provide supporting documentation and a personal narrative about why you deserve the pardon. An experienced attorney can be invaluable in helping you present your situation in the best possible light.

Once you file the Petition, the Prisoner Review Board checks to see if it is complete. If not, they will notify you that you need to provide more information. Once the petition is completed, it is placed on the Board’s docket. Currently hearings take place twice a year in Chicago and twice a year in Springfield, depending on when you file. You may choose to have a public or nonpublic hearing. After the Board has reviewed your case, it makes a recommendation to the governor, who then decides whether to grant the pardon.

If you have questions about this or another related criminal or traffic matter, please contact Matt Keenan at 847-568-0160 or email matt@mattkeenanlaw.com.

(Besides Skokie, Matt Keenan also serves the communities of Arlington Heights, Chicago, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Evanston, Glenview, Morton Grove, Mount Prospect, Niles, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Rolling Meadows, Wilmette and Winnetka.)

Posted in clemency petition, criminal record, expungement, pardon, sealing | Leave a comment

REGISTERING YOUR CHILD FOR SCHOOL CAN BE RISKY BUSINESS

Posted on August 5, 2011 by admin

It’s back to school time for many families, and along with it comes the hassle of registration. But as financial pressures on schools increase, so does the pressure to ensure that only residents of a school district are attending the school.

This means stiffer requirements on parents to prove residency in their school district. Worse still, more and more schools are suing parents for tuition and pressing criminal charges.

If you lie about your residency status to a school district in Illinois, you can be charged with providing false information, a Class C misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $1,500 fine. One Ohio mother was jailed for 9 days for tampering with official records, according to the Chicago Tribune. In Illinois, Orland Park successfully prosecuted a father for providing false information about residency to its district and is now suing to recoup $24,208 in tuition costs.

Because a criminal case has a higher burden of proof than a civil case, it is critical that you fight the criminal case. Once you are found guilty of lying in the criminal case, that finding might be binding in the civil case. You may not be able to reopen the question of your guilt. Parents can be liable for 110% of the cost of educating their child.

Of course, not all parents accused of wrongfully registering their children are guilty. There can be some very good reasons why you don’t appear to live in the district when you actually do. Maybe you can no longer afford your home in your old district, but have been unable to sell it. Maybe you don’t have a lot of personal belongings, so that your home doesn’t look “lived in” enough. Maybe you have a unique parenting arrangement.

In any case, if you are presented with the notice from the school that your child is wrongfully enrolled, contact an experienced attorney immediately. Do not attempt to resolve the matter yourself. Schools, at times, look for what they want to hear and may use your statements against you. An attorney can assess what evidence is necessary to prove you are a resident. Even if you are in the wrong, an attorney may be able to work out a deal with the school on your behalf.

If you have questions about this or another criminal or school law matter, contact Matt Keenan at matt@mattkeenanlaw.com or by calling 847-568-0160. See our related school law blog at http://northshoreschoollaw.com.

(Besides Skokie, Matt Keenan also serves the communities of Arlington Heights, Chicago, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Evanston, Glenview, Morton Grove, Mount Prospect, Niles, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Rolling Meadows, Wilmette and Winnetka.)

Posted in class c misdemeanor, providing false information, school residency | Leave a comment