On behalf of Polinske & Associates, P.C. posted in Sex Crimes on Thursday, May 16, 2013
Four Illinois residents were arrested on March 26 for failing to register as sex offenders with state and local officials. The arrests were part of a larger, three-year U.S. Marshals Service operation known as 'Operation Guardian" focused on sexual offender registration. In total, the operation has led to the arrest of 345 people who had failed to register as sex offenders.
In Southern Illinois, the operation led to the arrest of a man wanted on charges of predatory criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual abuse and four counts of possession of child pornography. The man had been wanted by the Massac County Sheriff's Department since 2002. Federal and local officials learned that he had relocated to Wyoming and was using the name of a deceased man. When he was arrested, police found a book on how to change one's identity.
On behalf of Polinske & Associates, P.C. posted in Criminal Defense on Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Jury preparation can be one of the most critical phases of a criminal trial. For a man accused of murdering members of a Beason family, the judge took care to introduce all information to the jury prior to the commencement of his trial, including instructions about dealing with media and internet accounts of the crime and introduction of the attorneys prosecuting the case and defending the accused man. The man is accused of beating several members of a local family to death in their home during a robbery, including several children. He is facing criminal charges including several counts of murder, home invasion and battery.
The judge chose to address the potential jurors in the jury assembly room rather than the courtroom, an unusual move in the Peoria court system. The 87 potential jurors were then asked to complete exhaustive questionnaires about their previous knowledge of the case, their relationship to the defendant, the family or law enforcement, and their ability to evaluate the evidence impartially.
On behalf of Polinske & Associates, P.C. posted in Weapons Crimes on Friday, May 3, 2013
The 7th Circuit Court in Chicago recently ruled that federal prosecutors can use their discretion in requesting a reduced sentence if a defendant takes responsibility for his or her actions. The ruling came in the case of a man who had given false information when he illegally purchased guns and committed weapon crimes. He admitted guilt, and several counts against him were dismissed.
According to section 3E1.1(b) of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, the prosecution can ask for a three-level reduction in such cases. However, the defendant did not waive his right to appeal, so attorneys asked for a two-level reduction. He eventually received an 18-month sentence to prison but took the case to a higher court, claiming he had the right to a three-level reduction.
On behalf of Polinske & Associates, P.C. posted in Drug Charges on Monday, April 22, 2013
After law enforcement personnel broke up a fight outside an Illinois apartment complex, they discovered a meth lab as they further investigated drug activity. Local authorities think the individuals used soda bottles to make meth in the residence. They found the bottles containing chemical residue in the crawl space of a residence when three children, ages 9, 10 and 13, were present.
Meth labs in the bottles mean that the operation is portable and easy to hide but can be extremely volatile. Because of the instability of the chemicals, they can explode when they are exposed to air. The authorities added that the drug crime of operating is a meth lab is not common in that part of the state.
On behalf of Polinske & Associates, P.C. posted in Sex Crimes on Friday, April 19, 2013
On March 22, a 22-year-old man who was out of custody on supervised release hid in a woman's vehicle while she bought gas, ordered her to drive to Chicago, sexually attacked her, and took money from her. The accused man faces charges of kidnapping, robbery and sexual assault against a 26-year-old mother. He was on parole for carjacking and armed robbery committed in 2007 when he was 16 years old.
The woman left her van unlocked early in the morning when she stopped to buy gas, coffee and cigarettes. The man crawled into the back of the vehicle where he hid until she left the premises. As she was driving, he climbed up into the seat right behind her and demanded that she continue to drive. Dressed in a ski mask, jacket and athletic sweatshirt, he told her he would stab her and kill her if she didn't listen to him or if she moved suddenly.
On behalf of Polinske & Associates, P.C. posted in Criminal Defense on Friday, April 12, 2013
While some proponents argue that proposed Illinois gun laws would reduce the murder rate, others claim the legislation will cause a number of problems if it passes. HB2265, which was recently passed in a House committee, orders three-year mandatory prison terms for unlawful possession of weapons crimes. In addition, defendants would need to serve a minimum of 85 percent of their sentence, or more than 30 months in custody.
The Chicago Police Department has been criticized because of the city's high murder rate. For this reason, the department superintendent aggressively supports the bill and thinks that it will help the community establish order once again. The city mayor and a Cook County attorney also believe that the measure will help keep criminals in custody. The mayor added that the public has the right to expect that criminals will serve the sentence they receive, sometimes called truth-in-sentencing. Supporters admit that the price of the bill is high but insist that public safety is worth it.
On behalf of Polinske & Associates, P.C. posted in Sex Crimes on Friday, April 5, 2013
A 41-year-old former youth minister who served at an Illinois church was allegedly intimately involved in a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl in a variety of locations. The former associate pastor faces accusations of 11 counts of sexual assault charges and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault. The crimes carry maximum prison terms of 47 years.
The man allegedly began the relationship while he was counseling the teen in 2004, and the relationship ended in 2011 when she was 23 years old. They engaged in sexual activity while at a church function out of state and in public locations, such as cemeteries and parks. The alleged victim claims the pastor said he would commit suicide if anyone found out about their sexual involvement.
On behalf of Polinske & Associates, P.C. posted in Drug Charges on Tuesday, March 26, 2013
The police took a 21-year-old known gang member into custody for two drug charges while he was at the Ogle County Court House in Oregon, Illinois, on March 11. The drug charges consist of two counts of unlawful delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a church, a class x felony, which carries a possible penalty that can range from six to 30 years in prison per count.
The accused man's arrest comes at the end of a three-month long investigation by local law enforcement personnel. Further details surrounding the events that led to the arrest were not immediately available. However, additional people could be arrested, and more charges could possibly be filed. The accused man was held at the Boone County Jail pending the payment of a $100,000 bond.
On behalf of Polinske & Associates, P.C. posted in Drug Charges on Thursday, March 21, 2013
In August, a state representative of Illinois warned drug dealers that they would be sent to prison for even selling small amounts of drugs. The focus in the crackdown in prosecution is on the "heroin highway," the section of the community that runs into the city's economically disadvantaged communities. 10 years ago, authorities speculated that more than half of all heroin deals in the city happen in that area.
Officials tried different methods to resolve the problem of drug crimes in the area. They confiscated vehicles from out-of-state visitors who purchased drugs. They mandated prison time for those who sold more than five grams of heroin. Then they reduced that amount to three grams.
On behalf of Polinske & Associates, P.C. posted in Sex Crimes on Saturday, March 16, 2013
A woman reported to police that a 29-year-old taxi cab driver of attacking her in Prospect Heights, Illinois, on Feb. 24. The man was taken into custody and faces charges of kidnapping and sexual assault.
The driver allegedly stopped for three women near a bar after they called for a taxi. The women reported that they were uncomfortable with the suspect's behavior, and two of them exited the vehicle when it stopped at a light. However, the third woman was not able to escape in time. Her friends contacted emergency personnel, and police located the driver with the cab and passenger at an office complex. Upon arrival, police could hear the woman cry out for help as the suspect allegedly attacked her.
