Being charged with a crime in Illinois puts your freedom, your record, your license, and often your job on the line. Brandenburg & Rees defends people in state courts across Central Illinois, from traffic citations to serious felonies. Sean Rees has taken cases to jury verdict and won, including a not-guilty verdict for a client accused of pulling a gun on police officers responding to his home.
Cases we defend
- Misdemeanors and felonies of every class, including assault and battery, theft, burglary, weapons offenses, and drug possession and delivery.
- DUI and the license consequences that come with it.
- Traffic citations, including for commercial driver's license holders, for whom a conviction can end a career.
- Domestic matters and orders of protection.
- Expungement and sealing of past records.
What Illinois sentences look like
Illinois classifies offenses by severity. Judges have discretion within these ranges, and probation is available for many offenses, but some carry mandatory minimums.
| Class | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Class B misdemeanor | Up to 6 months in county jail | Fines up to $1,500 |
| Class A misdemeanor | Up to 1 year in county jail | Fines up to $2,500. Includes most first-offense DUI and domestic battery. |
| Class 4 felony | 1 to 3 years in prison | Extended term up to 6 years |
| Class 3 felony | 2 to 5 years | Extended term up to 7 years |
| Class 2 felony | 3 to 7 years | Extended term up to 14 years |
| Class 1 felony | 4 to 15 years | Extended term up to 30 years |
| Class X felony | 6 to 30 years | Non-probationable. Extended term up to 60 years |
Felony fines can reach $25,000. Prior convictions, use of a firearm, and vulnerable victims can enhance a sentence. Illinois abolished the death penalty in 2011.
How we defend a case
- Early intervention. If you are under investigation or have been contacted by police, the most important step is to say nothing and call a lawyer. Charges are sometimes avoided altogether.
- Challenge the evidence. Unlawful stops, searches without probable cause, defective warrants, and improper interrogations can result in suppressed evidence and dismissed charges.
- Negotiate from strength. Deferred prosecution, diversion programs, reduced charges, and probation are available far more often to defendants whose lawyers are prepared to try the case.
- Try the case. When the State cannot prove its case, we take it to a jury.
Common questions
Should I talk to the police if I have nothing to hide?
No. Politely decline to answer questions and ask for a lawyer. Innocent people are charged because of statements that seemed harmless at the time. Anything you say will be used to build the case against you.
What is the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony in Illinois?
Misdemeanors carry up to one year in county jail. Felonies carry a year or more in state prison and lasting consequences for employment, housing, firearm rights, and professional licenses.
Can charges be dismissed before trial?
Yes. Charges are dismissed when evidence is suppressed, witnesses are unavailable, or the State's case is weak. Diversion and deferred prosecution programs can also end with dismissal for eligible defendants.
Will a conviction stay on my record?
Many convictions are permanent, but Illinois allows expungement or sealing of certain arrests, dismissals, and convictions after a waiting period. See our expungements page.
This page provides general information about Illinois law and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship with Brandenburg & Rees, LLP. Laws change and every situation is different; consult an attorney about your specific circumstances.