Retail Theft Cases in Lake County Illinois (Waukegan Courthouse)--Does Lake County have a deferred prosecution program for retail theft cases?

 Posted on January 26, 2017 in Q & A

Lake County Illinois Criminal Defense Attorney

Lake County Illinois Traffic Offense Defense Attorney

Waukegan Illinois Criminal Defense and Traffic Law Attorney

Topic: Retail Theft Cases in Lake County Illinois (Waukegan Courthouse)

Question: Does Lake County have a deferred prosecution program for retail theft cases?

Answer: No. Lake County does not at this time offer a deferred prosecution for retail theft cases.

Lake County and the municipalities located there do not offer a formal deferred prosecution program for retail theft cases at this time. However, with the help of an experienced attorney, you do have some options to keep your record free of a retail theft conviction. A few of these options follow below.

Option #1

Your attorney may be able to negotiate an agreement with the state for a charge reduction to a trespass or disorderly conduct charge. These charges do not come with the stigma associated with a retail theft conviction.

Option #2

Your attorney may be able to negotiate a plea agreement for supervision. If this is the case, no conviction will be entered on your record and the case will be Eli bilge for expungement in the future.

Option #3

This is the option our office pursues on most cases. Often times, the prosecutor will be willing to dismiss the charges of retail theft against you in return for some minimal community service performance. The dismissal is always the best option.

It is critical to avoid the retail theft charge from being entered on your record. It is highly detrimental to employment options. Be sure to retain an attorney before appearing in court on any retail theft charge.

Whether you are charged with a misdemeanor, felony or DUI in Lake County, Illinois, it is imperative that you retain legal counsel to provide you with the best defense possible. At the Law Office of Matthew R. Gebhardt, P.C., Mr. Gebhardt’s experience as a former prosecutor means that you’ll have access to the best knowledge and education on your side -- an informed and experienced DUI and/or Criminal Defense lawyer working for you at every step of the way. Mr. Gebhardt draws upon his prior experience as a prosecutor to anticipate how the State will present their case against you. He can then determine what defenses will be most likely to prevail and concentrate his efforts in those areas.

If you or someone you know has been arrested for a misdemeanor, felony or DUI in Lake County, Illinois, contact us to schedule a consultation to discuss your case.

As always, the Law Office of Matthew R. Gebhardt, P.C. offers free consultations for anyone charged with a misdemeanor, felony or DUI in Lake County, Illinois.