Posted on January 30, 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

Lake County DUI Attorney

Topic: DUI Case in Lake County Illinois (Waukegan Courthouse)

Question: How do I beat my DUI in Lake County Illinois at the Waukegan Courthouse?

Answer: There is no one answer to this question. However, as a DUI defense lawyer, I can list a number of areas where we can challenge a DUI arrest in Lake County, Illinois in order to give you the best chance of winning your DUI trial.  Some of the most common areas that we investigate to win your case follow below:

• Unlawful Traffic Stop.
• Lane violation alone is not dispositive of DUI.
• Accuracy of Field Sobriety Test.
• Improperly administered Field Sobriety Tests.
• Officer’s failure to comply with observation period prior to breath test administration.

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 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.

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 Posted on January 25, 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: Cannabis Cases in Lake County Illinois (Waukegan Courthouse)

Question:  Does Lake County still prosecute Cannabis possession?

Answer: YES! Lake County is still prosecuting all Cannabis cases. These include arrests and citations for “personal use” amounts and up.

Lake County and the municipalities located there are still making arrests and issuing citations for even small amounts of Cannabis possession. As such, if you are arrested or ticketed for cannabis possession, you should consult with a criminal defense attorney immediately. With the help of a criminal defense attorney, you may qualify for a deferred prosecution of the case or even an outright dismissal.

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.

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 Posted on January 24, 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: Probation for Criminal Cases in Lake County Illinois (Waukegan Courthouse)

Question: Should I take probation on my Lake County criminal matter?

Answer: The only answer to this question is a qualified “maybe”. While probation may seem like a great way to avoid possible jail time on a criminal case, it will leave you with a permanent conviction on your record. This conviction may result in the loss (or prevention of future) employment, loss of driving privileges, loss of FOID cards and professional licenses etc.

Often times, there are more alternatives at your disposal then simply entering a plea of guilty for a probation sentence. An experienced attorney may be able to have the charges against you reduced or even outright dismissed. You may also be able to take your case to trial and win. All too often, defendants are not aggressive enough in forcing the State to prove them guilty of any charge beyond a reasonable doubt. It is imperative that you discuss your case with your attorney in detail to determine the best possible outcome for your situation.

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 Posted on January 12, 2017 in Uncategorized

Waukegan DUI Defense Lawyer Matthew R. Gebhardt examines the offense of DUI and its penalties under the laws of the State of Illinois.

DUI’s in Waukegan, Illinois can be charged as Misdemeanors or Felonies. We will being with an examination of Misdemeanor DUI’s in Waukegan, Illinois.

Misdemeanor DUI’s in Waukegan, Illinois

Waukegan DUI Defense attorney Matthew R. Gebhardt handles many misdemeanor DUI cases in Waukegan, Illinois. The minimum penalty on a misdemeanor DUI in Waukegan, Illinois is a period of twelve months supervision with alcohol education classes. The maximum penalty on a misdemeanor DUI in Waukegan, Illinois is 364 days in the Cook County Department of Corrections. If you plea or are found guilty after a trial on misdemeanor DUI charges in Waukegan, Illinois, many factors will be considered in determining your sentence. Some of these factors include: number of prior DUI and alcohol related offenses on your record, your criminal history, age, work status, citizenship status and any mitigating circumstances arising out of your case or background.

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 Posted on September 14, 2016 in Uncategorized

Mundelein Traffic Attorney

Experienced Illinois Suspended License Attorney

Driving with a suspended license is typically a misdemeanor in the State of Illinois. There are some aggravating circumstances that can cause it to become a felony, however. Either way, this charge can seriously jeopardize your driving privileges and may even lead to jail time. At the The Law Offices of Matthew R. Gebhardt, P.C., we take these charges seriously and strive to protect our clients’ rights, freedom and driving privileges.

Defending Driving with a Suspended License Charges

To the untrained eye, charges for driving with a suspended license can seem pretty cut and dry. Either your license is suspended or it’s not. Either you were driving or you weren’t. In truth, however, there are many ways our firm can help you improve your outcome if you are facing this charge.

The first step to defending this charge is often to attempt to resolve the issue(s) that originally caused the suspension. We will examine your driving record to determine why your license was suspended and if there is an opportunity to remedy the problem. In some cases, there are many problems on your record that have caused the suspension, and we will attempt to remedy as many as possible. Our goal is to help our clients avoid the serious consequences of the charge against them.

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 Posted on September 08, 2016 in Uncategorized

Rolling Meadows Bond Hearing and Bond Reduction Lawyer Matthew R Gebhardt

Do I need an attorney for a Bond Hearing in Rolling Meadows?

The answer to the above question is an unequivocal YES! Once arrested in Rolling Meadows, you will be taken in front a judge for a bond hearing, usually within 24 hours. The bond hearing will be your first contact with the Judge and can be critical in setting a tone for the entirety of your case.

At the bond hearing, the judge will verify your identity, inform you what you have been charged with, advise you of your rights and ultimately determine your bail. Without an experienced bond hearing lawyer at your side, you could wind up with an excessively high bond and have no other choice but to wait out the pendency of your case while you are incarcerated; some serious cases can take over a year to resolve. That is a year of your life that you can’t get back even if you are ultimately found not guilty of all charges. For this reason alone, it is imperative that you have an experienced Bond Hearing and Bond Reduction lawyer at your side from the very beginning.

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 Posted on September 08, 2016 in Uncategorized

Skokie Bond Hearing and Bond Reduction Lawyer Matthew R Gebhardt

Do I need an attorney for a Bond Hearing in Skokie?

The answer to the above question is an unequivocal YES! Once arrested in Skokie, you will be taken in front a judge for a bond hearing, usually within 24 hours. The bond hearing will be your first contact with the Judge and can be critical in setting a tone for the entirety of your case.

At the bond hearing, the judge will verify your identity, inform you what you have been charged with, advise you of your rights and ultimately determine your bail. Without an experienced bond hearing lawyer at your side, you could wind up with an excessively high bond and have no other choice but to wait out the pendency of your case while you are incarcerated; some serious cases can take over a year to resolve. That is a year of your life that you can’t get back even if you are ultimately found not guilty of all charges. For this reason alone, it is imperative that you have an experienced Bond Hearing and Bond Reduction lawyer at your side from the very beginning.

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 Posted on September 08, 2016 in Uncategorized

Waukegan Bond Hearing and Bond Reduction Lawyer Matthew R Gebhardt

Do I need an attorney for a Bond Hearing in Waukegan?

The answer to the above question is an unequivocal YES! Once arrested in Waukegan, you will be taken in front a judge for a bond hearing, usually within 24 hours. The bond hearing will be your first contact with the Judge and can be critical in setting a tone for the entirety of your case.

At the bond hearing, the judge will verify your identity, inform you what you have been charged with, advise you of your rights and ultimately determine your bail. Without an experienced bond hearing lawyer at your side, you could wind up with an excessively high bond and have no other choice but to wait out the pendency of your case while you are incarcerated; some serious cases can take over a year to resolve. That is a year of your life that you can’t get back even if you are ultimately found not guilty of all charges. For this reason alone, it is imperative that you have an experienced Bond Hearing and Bond Reduction lawyer at your side from the very beginning.

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 Posted on September 08, 2016 in Uncategorized

Cook County Bond Hearing and Bond Reduction Lawyer Matthew R Gebhardt

Do I need an attorney for a Bond Hearing in Cook County?

The answer to the above question is an unequivocal YES! Once arrested in Cook County, you will be taken in front a judge for a bond hearing, usually within 24 hours. The bond hearing will be your first contact with the Judge and can be critical in setting a tone for the entirety of your case.

At the bond hearing, the judge will verify your identity, inform you what you have been charged with, advise you of your rights and ultimately determine your bail. Without an experienced bond hearing lawyer at your side, you could wind up with an excessively high bond and have no other choice but to wait out the pendency of your case while you are incarcerated; some serious cases can take over a year to resolve. That is a year of your life that you can’t get back even if you are ultimately found not guilty of all charges. For this reason alone, it is imperative that you have an experienced Bond Hearing and Bond Reduction lawyer at your side from the very beginning.

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