Misdemeanor Offenses in Illinois
Misdemeanor offenses in Illinois are classified into three types. These three classes (Class A Misdemeanors, Class B Misdemeanors, and Class Misdemeanors) vary in severities based upon the specific crime and the actual outcome of your case.
All misdemeanors are serious because if convicted, “... it goes on your record.” A misdemeanor will almost inevitably appear on an employment background check. Once convicted or a guilty plea results it appears on your record permanently.
Because being convicted of a misdemeanor can negatively impact your future it’s wise to seek sound legal advice. A misdemeanor case that ends up in a not-guilty verdict or one that is dismissed, or reduced to a Class C Misdemeanor or deferred adjudication, may be eligible for an expungement (which essentially means the conviction or charge is erased as if it never existed).
Attorney Hugh Toner at the Toner Law Office in Peoria uses his familiarity with local courts and federal law to best defend those charged with misdemeanor offenses. He has practiced criminal defense law in Illinois for over twenty years and uses all his experience to build the best possible defense of the charges against you. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your case and your criminal record, or lack thereof, Hugh will build you the best possible defense in an attempt to get the charges against you dismissed, get you acquitted at trial, or argue to lessen the charges against you if a plea bargain makes more sense. There are no guarantees, but in some cases, Hugh has successfully gotten his clients’ records sealed even when convicted. This means only law enforcement officials have access to your records and the general public does not.
Class A Misdemeanor
Class A Misdemeanor convictions in Illinois are punishable by:
- Up to two years of probation (formal supervision), and
Examples of Class A Misdemeanor offenses include but are not limited to:
Class B Misdemeanor
Class B Misdemeanor convictions in Illinois are punishable by:
- Up to two years of probation, and
Examples of Class B Misdemeanor offenses include but are not limited to:
Class C Misdemeanor
Class C misdemeanor convictions in Illinois are punishable by:
- Up to two years of probation, and
Examples of Class C Misdemeanor offenses include but are not limited to:
In other jurisdictions, Class C Misdemeanors include crimes such as:
- Abandoning a child in a vehicle
- Possession of an open alcoholic beverage in a vehicle
- Dangerous use of a laser pointer
Statutes of Limitations