Criminal Defense & DUI · DuPage County, Illinois
Focused defense for DUI and criminal matters across DuPage County, with your record and your future treated as the priority.
Illinois misdemeanors come in three classes — A (most serious, up to 364 days jail), B (up to 180 days), and C (up to 30 days). All are criminal — meaning they appear on background checks, affect job applications, restrict housing and student loans, and remain on your record forever unless expunged or sealed.
We’ve defended misdemeanors in DuPage County for over three decades. Most clients are first-time offenders with otherwise clean records — exactly the cases that benefit most from real defense.
From retail theft to assault, we represent clients across the full range of Illinois misdemeanors.
Shoplifting under $500 is Class A misdemeanor. Theft creates serious employment problems even when value is small.
Simple battery is Class A. Aggravated battery is felony. Domestic battery has special procedures and consequences.
Public disturbance offenses ranging from noise to creating a false alarm. Class C up to Class 4 felony depending on facts.
Possession above legal limits, distribution, public consumption. Cannabis law has evolved — but charges still exist.
Trespassing on real property, residences, or vehicles. Charges vary by location and circumstances.
Threatening calls, harassment by phone or text. Class B misdemeanor up to felony depending on circumstances.
Misdemeanor convictions stay on your record forever absent expungement. Background checks reveal them.
Many employers, professional licenses, and security clearances bar misdemeanor convicts. Particularly theft or violence.
Most first-offender misdemeanors qualify for court supervision — no conviction, expungeable after completion.
Procedural errors, weak evidence, or unavailable witnesses can result in outright dismissal.
Even cases that don’t dismiss often resolve to lesser charges through negotiation — but only when defense pushes.
Non-citizens face additional risks. Some misdemeanors trigger deportation. Specialized analysis required.
From our Villa Park office, we represent clients across DuPage County and the western suburbs of Chicago.
Yes. Misdemeanors are criminal offenses and appear on background checks. The only way to remove them is through expungement (full removal) or sealing (limits who can see). Both have specific eligibility requirements.
Yes. Class A misdemeanors carry up to 364 days. In practice, jail is rare for first-time non-violent misdemeanors — fines, court supervision, and community service are more common. But it’s possible, and probation violations can mean jail later.
A sentence available for many misdemeanors that doesn’t result in conviction if you complete it successfully. You comply with conditions (court costs, classes, community service, no further offenses) for a period — typically 6 to 24 months. After successful completion, the case can be expunged.
Forever, unless expunged or sealed. Court supervision (not a conviction) becomes expungeable 2-5 years after completion depending on charge. Convictions are harder to seal and have longer waiting periods.
Often yes. Many employers ask about criminal history. Specific industries (childcare, education, healthcare, financial services, government) have categorical bars. Professional licenses can be denied or revoked over misdemeanor convictions.
Legally, yes. Practically, almost never a good idea. The procedural rules, plea negotiations, and discovery process are difficult to navigate without representation. The cost of an attorney is small compared to the consequences of conviction.
First step: don’t plead at your first court date. A free consultation tells you your options and realistic outcomes.