Posted on December 10, 2024 in Domestic Battery

Witness testimony can significantly affect how your Illinois domestic battery case resolves. The credibility of the allegations and the circumstances surrounding the incident can be put into context when there were witnesses. Unfortunately, allegations of domestic battery often come down to "he said/she said," so if there were witnesses, the judge in the case would definitely want to hear from them.

Since the judge is unlikely to know either party personally when hearing a domestic battery case, the more information he or she has to base a decision on, the better. If you are the person bringing charges of domestic battery or the person defending against those charges, you can benefit from having an experienced Gurnee, IL, domestic battery lawyer from The Law Offices of Matthew R. Gebhardt, P.C..

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 Posted on November 26, 2024 in Domestic Battery

An order of protection in Illinois is a court order that protects one family member or household member from the actions of another. It is governed by the Illinois Domestic Violence Act. The person asking for the order of protection must credibly prove that he or she has been abused by the respondent, although the courts tend to err on the side of caution.

Protecting people from harm is, of course, the right thing to do. Unfortunately, there are times when a person is untruthful as a means of securing an order of protection. This is a concern for those who are falsely accused as well as for those who are truly in need of protection.

The person falsely accused must now hire a criminal defense attorney to defend himself or herself.  If your spouse has lied to obtain an order of protection, what can you do? This is a difficult situation that can benefit from an experienced Lake Zurich, IL criminal defense attorney from The Law Offices of Matthew R. Gebhardt, P.C..

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 Posted on November 12, 2024 in Domestic Battery

If you have been charged with domestic battery – whether or not the charges are true – you could be facing an array of adverse consequences. If you are under a protection order, you will be ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim. But what if the alleged victim is your spouse, and the home you both live in belongs to you?

While there are a number of variables in that scenario, generally speaking, you will be unable to enter your home until your domestic battery charges are resolved or the protection order is modified. If you find yourself unable to return to your home as a result of domestic battery charges and a protection order, it is important to speak to a knowledgeable Arlington Heights, IL criminal defense lawyer from The Law Offices of Matthew R. Gebhardt, P.C..    

How Can the Conditions of My Order of Protection Order Be Lifted Early?

Either party in a protection order case can file a Motion to Modify the protection order or a Motion to Terminate the order. You will appear before a judge, and your attorney will argue on your behalf as to why the protection order should be modified or terminated.

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 Posted on October 31, 2024 in Domestic Battery

If you are facing domestic battery charges in the state of Illinois, you may rightfully fear being unable to see your children or have your regular parenting time. Domestic battery occurs when a person knowingly makes physical contact with or causes bodily harm to a member of his or her household. Domestic battery is a criminal offense and can be charged even when there are no actual injuries. Even physical contact that is of a provoking or insulting nature can be charged as domestic battery.   

Domestic battery can result in extremely serious penalties, including time in jail. A prior conviction for domestic battery can escalate the charges, even resulting in prison time and steep fines. Additionally, a conviction for domestic battery can impact employment opportunities and potentially even restrict your rights to see your children.

If you are facing domestic battery charges and are concerned about your ability to continue seeing your children, it can be helpful to speak to a Buffalo Grove, IL criminal defense attorney from The Law Offices of Matthew R. Gebhardt, P.C.. While family courts will always make decisions based on the best interests of the child, your criminal defense attorney can help you navigate not only your criminal charges but also the parenting time issues that can arise from domestic battery charges.  

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 Posted on October 10, 2024 in DUI

Many people who are charged with a DUI will simply plead guilty in order to have the matter over and done with. This is virtually never the best course of action. The reasons it is worth it to fight your DUI charges are discussed in detail below, but the best reason to have a DUI attorney by your side is that the prosecutor and judge will immediately have more respect for you, your rights, and your case. After being charged with DUI, if you stand before a judge on your own, without legal representation, there is little incentive for the judge to do anything other than impose the maximum penalties.

On the other hand, when you have an experienced DUI lawyer, you are likely to have one or more valid defenses to your charges. Being convicted of a DUI has many harsh consequences that can alter your future for a very long time. When you plead guilty, you can be sure that all those consequences will affect you, your employment, your relationships, and your finances. Having a Waukegan, IL DUI attorney from The Law Offices of Matthew R. Gebhardt, P.C. as your advocate throughout the process is much more likely to result in the most positive outcome possible.

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 Posted on September 24, 2024 in Criminal Defense

For a prosecutor to prove you were in possession of drug paraphernalia, it must be shown that an otherwise ordinary household item was used to ingest or store drugs. For this reason, it can be difficult for the prosecution to prove possession of drug paraphernalia because many items that we all use on a daily basis could potentially be used to deliver or store drugs. Two examples are plastic Ziploc storage bags, often used to store leftovers, or a digital scale, which can be used to weigh your food or determine postage. Prosecutors will typically rely on other evidence to suggest the household items were actually paraphernalia.

So, for example, even though most households in Illinois have a drawer with plastic bags stored inside, if those bags just happen to be near illegal drugs or cash, you might be charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. If you find yourself facing charges of drug paraphernalia, you should take these charges seriously. A knowledgeable Buffalo Grove, IL attorney can provide a solid defense on your behalf.  

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 Posted on September 09, 2024 in Domestic Battery

When we think of domestic battery, we generally think of an abuser and a victim. In many cases, this is the reality of the situation, but sometimes a relationship can be mutually abusive – that is, both parties consistently exhibit violent physical and emotional behaviors toward the other. Some studies have concluded that between 40-60 percent of domestic violence and abuse happens in mutually abusive relationships.

When the police show up and both parties are alleging abuse, the situation becomes very complex. If you have been charged with domestic abuse, you need an aggressive, experienced Libertyville, IL criminal defense attorney from The Law Offices of Matthew R. Gebhardt, P.C..

What is Mutual Abuse?

Some relationships are more volatile and emotionally intense than others. This volatility can result in heated arguments that rapidly progress to physical violence. If both people involved are abusive to one another, the term mutual abuse applies. In situations like this, each party may accuse the other of violence, making it difficult for law enforcement to determine the primary aggressor.

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 Posted on August 29, 2024 in Criminal Defense

State gun laws vary considerably from state to state, as do federal firearm laws. State gun laws may be broader or more limited in scope than federal gun laws. Every state except California, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, and New York has a provision in their state constitutions protecting the right to keep and bear arms under the Second Amendment. Reciprocity may exist between states regarding concealed carry permits, but this is not always the case.

As an example, Oregon does not recognize an Idaho concealed carry permit, but Idaho does recognize a concealed carry permit from Oregon. Because state laws can differ so significantly, you should never travel with a handgun unless you are familiar with the laws of the states you will be traveling through, as you could end up facing weapons charges. Illinois does not recognize concealed carry permits from other states. If you have been charged with a firearm offense in the state of Illinois, you can benefit significantly from speaking to a knowledgeable Libertyville, IL weapons charges attorney from The Law Offices of Matthew R. Gebhardt, P.C..

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 Posted on August 15, 2024 in Juvenile crime

Getting a call that your teenager has been arrested for selling drugs at his or her high school is a call no parent wants to get. Aside from the immediate concern of finding an attorney who is experienced in drug charges and Illinois juvenile crimes, there is the looming possibility of a trial and a potential conviction. As a parent, you also know there are long-term consequences to any criminal conviction, even for a minor.

In some cases, penalties for drug crimes can be as harsh for a minor as for an adult. Your child may also find it more difficult to be accepted to college, secure housing, or even find a job following a drug conviction. With so much at stake, it is essential that you not only find a lawyer but that you find the best lawyer for your situation. When you choose a Libertyville, IL juvenile crimes lawyer from The Law Offices of Matthew R. Gebhardt, P.C., with added experience in drug crimes, you can rest easy, knowing your child’s future is in good hands.

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 Posted on July 30, 2024 in DUI

Imagine spending an hour with some work friends to celebrate a recent promotion. You have a couple of beers during the celebration, then head home. Suddenly, you see flashing lights in your rearview mirror. Despite your best efforts to convince the officer that you are far from impaired, you find yourself under arrest for DUI. A DUI arrest can seriously affect your future – and not in a positive way.

You could find yourself without a driver’s license, facing harsh legal penalties, perhaps even time in jail. What if your BAC tested barely at 0.08 percent – or even below? Will an Illinois judge look more leniently at your DUI charges? It is important that you speak to a knowledgeable Barrington DUI attorney. A skilled attorney from The Law Offices of Matthew R. Gebhardt, P.C. has years of experience dealing with situations just like yours and will know the best steps to take to resolve the issue and secure the most positive outcome possible.

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