Posted on July 12,2016 in Uncategorized

Wheeling, Illinois DUI Defense Lawyer Matthew R. Gebhardt examines the offense of DUI and its penalties under the laws of the State of Illinois.

DUI’s in Wheeling, Illinois can be charged as Misdemeanors or Felonies. We will begin with an examination of Misdemeanor DUI’s in , Illinois.

Misdemeanor DUI’s in Illinois

Wheeling DUI Defense attorney Matthew R. Gebhardt handles many misdemeanor DUI cases in Wheeling, Illinois. The minimum penalty on a misdemeanor DUI in Wheeling, Illinois is a period of twelve months supervision with alcohol education classes. The maximum penalty on a misdemeanor DUI in Illinois is 364 days in the Cook County Department of Corrections. If you plea or are found guilty after a trial on misdemeanor DUI charges in Illinois, many factors will be considered in determining your sentence. Some of these factors include: number of prior DUI and alcohol related offenses on your record, your criminal history, age, work status, citizenship status and any mitigating circumstances arising out of your case or background.

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 Posted on July 11,2016 in Uncategorized

Skokie Retail Theft Lawyer

Skokie, Illinois Retail Theft Attorney Matthew R. Gebhardt examines the offense of Retail Theft and its penalties under the laws of the State of Illinois.

Retail theft, or shoplifting, can seem like a minor crime, but it’s not. Convictions for retail theft can have serious and lasting negative consequences. Depending on the value of the item stolen, shoplifting can be charged as an ordinance violation, misdemeanor or a felony in Skokie, Illinois. Convictions can result in fines and jail time. Additionally, retail theft is considered a “crime of moral turpitude,” which can negatively impact citizenship status.

Definitions of Retail Theft

The “traditional” retail theft occurs when a person knowingly:

(1) Takes possession of, carries away, transfers or causes to be carried away or transferred any merchandise displayed, held, stored or offered for sale in a retail mercantile establishment with the intention of retaining such merchandise or with the intention of depriving the merchant permanently of the possession, use or benefit of such merchandise without paying the full retail value of such merchandise.

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 Posted on July 11,2016 in Uncategorized

Court Diversion program for Retail Theft Offenders in Skokie, Illinois.

The Cook County Court system has implemented a new program for Retail Theft offenses in Skokie, Illinois.

The program consists of a probationary period that can include restitution, counseling and/or community service. Upon successful completion of the program, all charges are dismissed.

The Law Office of Matthew R. Gebhardt, P.C. has been successful in securing this program for several clients. It is the best way to keep you record clear of theft charges and secure your future employment possibilites.

Many criminal defense attorneys apply a one-size-fits-all mentality to defending their clients when charged with Retail Theft in Skokie, Illinois. At the The Law Offices of Matthew R. Gebhardt, P.C., we understand that the circumstances surrounding any shoplifting arrest are unique, and we tailor our defense strategies to match those circumstances. Attorney Matthew R. Gebhardt takes the time to listen to his clients and works with them to build an effective case. We make sure our clients are always informed and can actively participate in their defense.

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 Posted on July 07,2016 in Uncategorized

Round Lake Beach Traffic Attorney Matthew R Gebhardt examines the offense of driving while license is suspended or revoked in Round Lake Beach, Illinois.

Round Lake Beach, Illinois suspended driver’s license defense attorney Matthew R. Gebhardt represents clients charged with driving with a suspended driver’s license in Round Lake Beach, Illinois and throughout Lake County. Round Lake Beach attorney Matthew R Gebhardt discusses what options you may have in court.

Driving with a suspended license is typically a misdemeanor in Round Lake Beach, Illinois. There are some aggravating circumstances that can cause it to become a felony, however. Either way, this charge can seriously jeopardize your driving privileges, lead to a lengthened suspension, and may even lead to jail time.

The best way to defend this charge in Round Lake Beach, Illinois is to attempt to resolve the issue(s) that originally caused the suspension. At the The Law Offices of Matthew R. Gebhardt, P.C., we can examine your driving record to determine why your license was suspended and if there is an opportunity to remedy the problem. In some cases, there are many problems on your record that have caused the suspension, and you should attempt to remedy as many as possible.

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 Posted on July 07,2016 in Uncategorized

Mundelein Traffic Attorney

Experienced Illinois Suspended License Attorney

Driving with a suspended license is typically a misdemeanor in the State of Illinois. There are some aggravating circumstances that can cause it to become a felony, however. Either way, this charge can seriously jeopardize your driving privileges and may even lead to jail time. At the The Law Offices of Matthew R. Gebhardt, P.C., we take these charges seriously and strive to protect our clients’ rights, freedom and driving privileges.

Defending Driving with a Suspended License Charges

To the untrained eye, charges for driving with a suspended license can seem pretty cut and dry. Either your license is suspended or it’s not. Either you were driving or you weren’t. In truth, however, there are many ways our firm can help you improve your outcome if you are facing this charge.

The first step to defending this charge is often to attempt to resolve the issue(s) that originally caused the suspension. We will examine your driving record to determine why your license was suspended and if there is an opportunity to remedy the problem. In some cases, there are many problems on your record that have caused the suspension, and we will attempt to remedy as many as possible. Our goal is to help our clients avoid the serious consequences of the charge against them.

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 Posted on July 07,2016 in Uncategorized

Mundelein Aggravated Speeding Ticket attorney Matthew R Gebhardt examines the offense of aggravated speeding in the Mundelein Courthouse in Illinois.

Most drivers have received at least one speeding ticket over the course of their driving history. While your experience with past speeding tickets may lead you to believe that this is a minor issue, the laws in Mundelein, Illinois have changed dramatically in recent years. As such, the phrase “it’s only a traffic ticket” no longer applies in Mundelein Courthouse. Recent changes to the traffic laws have greatly increased the penalties for speeding in Mundelein Courthouse while at the same time lowering the threshold for determining what amounts to the more serious “Aggravated Speeding” charges. Mundelein speeding ticket attorney Matthew R Gebhardt is well-versed in these changes and can assist you in preserving your driving privileges.

Mundelein aggravated speeding ticket lawyer Matthew R Gebhardt has included some of the most recent changes below:

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 Posted on June 16,2016 in Identity Theft

An Illinois man was recently given five years in prison for a series of identity theft schemes and failing to pay taxes. The convicted individual used other people’s credit card accounts without their consent or knowledge to purchase over $40,000 worth of goods at major retail stores. He was previously charged with related crimes in Wisconsin and Indiana. Some might call this man lucky. Identity theft schemes can result in up to ten years’ imprisonment and some large-scale operations have resulted in sentences as high as 30 years.

What Is Identity Theft?

Identity theft or identity fraud refers to crimes in which a person uses another individual’s personal information for their own financial gain. In many cases, this could mean using another person’s social security number, banking information, or credit card to make purchases. Individuals who commit these crimes may have watched a person enter a credit card or bank number over their shoulder, taken a picture of a credit card, or listened in on a phone conversation in which personal financial information was discussed. Another form of identity theft may occur when an individual responds to “spam” email which requests personal information such as passwords or banking account numbers. These emails may be disguised as official correspondence from a legitimate company or organization, but, in reality, are fraudulent.

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 Posted on June 09,2016 in Lake County Defense Attorney

According to several reports, political heavyweights in Springfield have hammered out an agreement to extend the Illinois medical marijuana program and to add two new qualifying conditions. The changes must be approved by the full legislature, but many are hopeful that the pact represents a solid step in the right direction.

Off to a Slow Start

When the Illinois legislature passed a measure to create the state’s medical marijuana pilot program back in 2013, proponents of the bill were hopeful that the initiative would get underway quickly. The program was intended to help Illinois residents diagnosed with one of approximately three dozen qualifying conditions, including cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, and many others. Despite being approved by then-Governor Pat Quinn to become effective on January 1, 2014, political infighting and bureaucratic delays continued to push back the program’s implementation. The first legal medical marijuana did not become available until November of 2015, more than 22 months later.

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 Posted on May 26,2016 in DUI

It is easy to blame things such as entertainment and the media for the way drunk driving is portrayed and at times glamorized in our society. There is no denying that underage drivers in particular often see buzzed driving, which is a form of driving under the influence, as an acceptable thing--something everyone does, therefore it must not be a serious crime.

It Could Happen to You

The real problem is rooted in our perception of the crime, however. It is not uncommon for offenders of all ages and walks of life to view arrests associated with drunk driving as something that happens to everyone else, but not to them. Only when they are pulled over and arrested for the crime themselves do they understand the severity of the offense.

Drunk driving arrests are real, and they can happen to anyone who decides to ignore their better judgement. So, what exactly does a DUI arrest look like? What happens when a person finds themselves in the exact scenario that they were warned about and the consequences become very real, very quickly?

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 Posted on May 12,2016 in Retail Theft

For many people, the temptation is simply too great. They go into a fast-food restaurant or other establishment with a self-service soda fountain, and order ice water with their meal. When they think no one is looking, they fill their water cup with soda or tea, effectively saving themselves the cost of a soft drink. While most realize that such actions are not exactly condoned, they would probably not expect to face serious criminal charges as a result. For one young man in Arkansas, that is almost exactly what happened.

How It Happened

According to news reports, a trio of young men ordered large cups of water from McDonald’s in Springdale, Arkansas, last month. The group then parked, entered the restaurant, dumped out the water, and filled the cups with soda from a self-serve station. The store manager confronted the group, and two of the individuals complied with his request to dispose of the stolen drinks. The third, however, fled the store and jumped into the car.

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