Felony Charges Lawyer in Collinsville, IL. One felony accusation can put everything under strain: your freedom, your record, your work, your family, your housing, your rights, and your future. If you are facing felony charges in Collinsville, IL, what happens next matters. And the questions usually come all at once:
What kind of felony am I facing? Could I go to prison? Can the charge be reduced? Should I talk to police? What happens next?
When felony charges threaten your future in Collinsville, IL, Combs Waterkotte can step in early, review the case, and begin building your defense. Our felony defense team brings the pieces serious cases demand: 80+ years of combined experience, former prosecutor insight, a dedicated investigator, 500+ Google reviews, and a trial-ready approach. We can help you understand the charge, protect your rights, and start looking for the pressure points in the prosecution’s case.
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Have questions about a felony charge in Collinsville, IL? Call Combs Waterkotte at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to discuss your next steps with a criminal defense lawyer.
This page covers:
- What makes a charge a felony in Illinois
- Illinois felony classes, from Class 4 through Class X, and their sentencing ranges
- Drug, weapons, theft, violent crime, sex crime, homicide-related, and federal felony cases
- What matters immediately after a felony accusation
- How a felony defense lawyer can help build your case
- How reductions and dismissals can happen in felony cases
- How a felony conviction can affect work, housing, licensing, immigration status, firearm rights, family issues, and your future
- Answers to common felony charge questions for people in Collinsville, IL
Legal Videos
Everything You Need to Know About Felony Charges in Illinois
Everything You Need to Know About Felony Charges in the State of Illinois. Attorneys Steve Waterkotte and Joshua Boardman from Combs Waterkotte discuss everything you need to know about Illinois …
Can I Seal or Expunge My Criminal Record in Illinois?
Can I Seal or Expunge My Criminal Record in Illinois? Dealing with a criminal record in the state of Illinois? Combs Waterkotte attorney Joshua Boardman discusses the possibility of expunging your …
Can the Police Legally Search Me or My Property in Illinois?
Can the Police Legally Search Me or My Property in Illinois? Facing criminal charges in the state of Illinois? Combs Waterkotte attorney Joshua Boardman discusses probable cause and when police can …
Do I Need a Lawyer if I’m Innocent in Illinois?
Do I Need a Lawyer if I'm Innocent in Illinois? Facing criminal charges in the state of Illinois? Combs Waterkotte attorney Andrew Russek talks about it being more important to have a lawyer if …
What Penalties Could I Face Under Illinois Law?
What Penalties Could I Face Under Illinois Law? Facing criminal charges in the state of Illinois? Combs Waterkotte attorney Joshua Boardman talks about the possible penalties under Illinois …
What Are My Rights if I’m Arrested in Illinois?
What Are My Rights if I'm Arrested in Illinois? Facing criminal charges in the state of Illinois? Combs Waterkotte attorney Joshua Boardman discusses your rights following an arrest in …
Everything You Need to Know About Felony Charges in Illinois
Everything You Need to Know About Felony Charges in the State of Illinois. Attorneys Steve Waterkotte and Joshua Boardman from Combs Waterkotte discuss everything you need to know about Illinois …
Can I Seal or Expunge My Criminal Record in Illinois?
Can I Seal or Expunge My Criminal Record in Illinois? Dealing with a criminal record in the state of Illinois? Combs Waterkotte attorney Joshua Boardman discusses the possibility of expunging your …
Can the Police Legally Search Me or My Property in Illinois?
Can the Police Legally Search Me or My Property in Illinois? Facing criminal charges in the state of Illinois? Combs Waterkotte attorney Joshua Boardman discusses probable cause and when police can …
Do I Need a Lawyer if I’m Innocent in Illinois?
Do I Need a Lawyer if I'm Innocent in Illinois? Facing criminal charges in the state of Illinois? Combs Waterkotte attorney Andrew Russek talks about it being more important to have a lawyer if …
What Penalties Could I Face Under Illinois Law?
What Penalties Could I Face Under Illinois Law? Facing criminal charges in the state of Illinois? Combs Waterkotte attorney Joshua Boardman talks about the possible penalties under Illinois …
What Are My Rights if I’m Arrested in Illinois?
What Are My Rights if I'm Arrested in Illinois? Facing criminal charges in the state of Illinois? Combs Waterkotte attorney Joshua Boardman discusses your rights following an arrest in …
What to Know After a Felony Charge in Collinsville, IL
A felony case is built from many parts: police reports, witness statements, searches, statements, physical evidence, digital records, and charging decisions. The State has to prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt, and those parts can be questioned. That may include:
- Whether your rights were violated during the stop, search, arrest, or investigation
- The reliability of witnesses and their identifications
- How forensic evidence, phone data, surveillance footage, lab results, or digital records were collected and interpreted
- Whether statements were properly obtained
- Whether the charging decision fits the actual facts
What happens early can matter for the rest of the case. A felony defense lawyer can step in before the State’s version of events hardens, review the evidence, protect your rights, and start building a defense around the facts.
What Makes a Charge a Felony in Illinois?
Under Illinois law, a felony is an offense that can be punished by imprisonment for one year or more. Felonies are more serious than misdemeanors and can carry prison time, probation, fines, restitution, mandatory supervised release, and long-term consequences after the case ends.
Felony charges in Illinois are organized by severity. Class 4 is the lowest felony class. Class X sits near the top of the scale, below first-degree murder, which is sentenced separately.
Illinois Felony Classes and Penalties
Illinois felony penalties depend on the class of felony and the statute involved. The general sentencing ranges include:
| Felony Category | Possible Prison Range | Examples May Include |
|---|---|---|
| First-Degree Murder | 20 to 60 years, extended term, natural life, or other sentencing under Illinois murder statutes | First-degree murder and felony murder allegations |
| Class X Felony | 6 to 30 years | Armed robbery, home invasion, aggravated criminal sexual assault, and high-level firearm offenses |
| Class 1 Felony | 4 to 15 years | Residential burglary, second-degree murder, major theft offenses, and certain controlled substance offenses |
| Class 2 Felony | 3 to 7 years | Theft of property over $10,000, certain aggravated battery offenses, certain identity theft offenses, and possession of 5 to 15 grams of methamphetamine |
| Class 3 Felony | 2 to 5 years | Retail theft over $300, theft of property over $500, lower-level methamphetamine possession, and aggravated battery unless otherwise classified |
| Class 4 Felony | 1 to 3 years | Obstructing justice, some lower-level drug possession offenses, second or subsequent retail theft, and possession of burglary tools |
Sentencing does not always stop with the general range listed in the table. Some offenses carry special rules, prior convictions can raise the stakes, and certain facts can trigger enhanced penalties. A felony case may also involve fines, restitution, mandatory supervised release, registration requirements, immigration consequences, firearm restrictions, and other penalties tied to the specific charge.
Felony Cases Combs Waterkotte Handles in Collinsville, IL
Felony cases in Collinsville, IL can start in many ways: a traffic stop, a search warrant, a police interview, an undercover investigation, an online accusation, a report from another person, or a federal agency referral. Combs Waterkotte defends clients at every stage of those cases.
Our Collinsville, IL felony defense lawyers handle cases involving:
- Drug crimes: Drug charges often turn on what police found, where they found it, how they searched, what the lab says, and whether prosecutors can prove possession or intent.
- Weapons and firearm offenses: Firearm allegations often raise the stakes quickly, especially when the case involves prior convictions, alleged possession in a vehicle, or enhancements connected to another offense.
- Violent crimes: Charges involving aggravated assault, aggravated battery, robbery, or similar allegations may depend on who started the encounter, whether injury occurred, whether identification is reliable, and whether self-defense applies.
- Property crimes: Property crime cases may involve burglary, theft, retail theft, fraud, alleged entry into a building, disputed value, or questions about intent.
- Sex crimes: These cases often involve high stakes from the beginning, especially when the accusation involves registration exposure, digital evidence, interviews, or conflicting accounts.
- Domestic violence-related felonies: These cases may involve no-contact orders, family consequences, witness issues, and allegations that overlap with assault, battery, weapons, or protection order violations.
- Homicide-related charges: Murder, felony murder, second-degree murder, reckless homicide, and manslaughter cases often involve questions about intent, causation, self-defense, forensic evidence, and witness credibility.
- White collar and financial crimes: Financial crime cases may center on documents, bank records, business records, emails, signatures, account access, identity information, and whether prosecutors can prove criminal intent.
- Probation violations: A felony probation violation can put someone at risk of resentencing, stricter conditions, or prison time.
- Federal felony charges: Federal cases involve different procedures, prosecutors, sentencing rules, and investigative agencies than Illinois state cases.
Two people can face similar-sounding felony charges and still have very different cases. Classification, enhancements, criminal history, evidence strength, and the specific facts all matter.
Arrested or Charged With a Felony in Collinsville, IL? Do This First
A felony arrest in Collinsville, IL can put you under pressure fast. Before you try to explain anything, fix anything, or talk your way out of it, slow down and protect yourself.
If you have been arrested, charged, or contacted by police about a felony investigation, take these steps seriously:
- Tell police clearly that you are using your right to remain silent and want a lawyer before answering questions.
- Do not answer follow-up questions, clarify details, or keep talking after you ask for a lawyer.
- Do not contact alleged victims, witnesses, or co-defendants about the case.
- Stay off social media when it comes to the case. Posts, comments, photos, videos, and messages can all become evidence.
- Do not erase anything connected to the case. What seems unimportant now may matter once a defense lawyer reviews the evidence.
- Write down witness names, preserve screenshots, save receipts, keep videos, and gather anything that may help your lawyer understand the timeline.
- Do not guess about your bond or pretrial release conditions. Follow them closely and ask your lawyer before taking any risk.
- Talk to a criminal defense lawyer in Collinsville, IL before speaking with police, prosecutors, or anyone connected to the case.
Even a short conversation can create problems. Police may seem casual, like they only want “your side of the story,” but they may already have a theory of the case. Before you make a statement, sign anything, consent to a search, or try to explain your way out of the situation, talk to a lawyer.
What a Felony Defense Lawyer Does in Collinsville, IL
A strong felony defense starts with the basics: what happened, what the charge requires, what evidence exists, what police did, and which legal issues could affect the case.
Our defense team may help by:
- Going through the charges, reports, video evidence, witness statements, and discovery to understand what the State is relying on
- Conducting an independent investigation instead of relying only on the State’s version of events
- Working with an investigator to locate witnesses, review evidence, and test the State’s version of events
- Challenging police conduct when a stop, search, seizure, arrest, or interrogation violated your rights
- Seeking to suppress evidence or statements that should not be used against you
- Reviewing forensic reports, phone data, firearm evidence, medical records, financial records, lab results, and other technical evidence
- Finding inconsistencies in witness statements, police reports, timelines, and identification evidence
- Negotiating with prosecutors when a favorable resolution is possible
- Building a trial-ready defense when the prosecution refuses to treat the case fairly
Some felony cases are won through motion practice. Some are resolved through reduced charges or negotiated sentencing. Some require a trial. A trial-ready defense helps in every lane because prosecutors know which lawyers are prepared to challenge the case and which ones are only looking for a quick plea.
Reducing or Dismissing Felony Charges in Collinsville, IL
Felony charges in Collinsville, IL may be reduced or dismissed when the evidence, facts, or police conduct create problems for the prosecution. The defense starts by looking at what the State has to prove and whether the charge matches what actually happened.
Charge reductions often come from pressure points in the evidence. Weak proof of intent, disputed possession, unreliable witnesses, missing context, or facts that point to a lesser offense can all change the direction of a felony case.
Combs Waterkotte looks early for the issues that can change a felony case: illegal searches, weak identification, unreliable witnesses, suppressed evidence, overcharging, missing elements, and facts that undercut the State’s version of events.
Read more: Can Criminal Charges be Dropped in Illinois?
What a Felony Conviction Can Cost You Beyond Court
The sentence is only one part of a felony case. A conviction can affect work, housing, family, rights, immigration status, and future opportunities long after court is over.
Beyond sentencing, a felony conviction can lead to consequences involving:
- Employment and future job applications
- Rental applications and housing access
- Licensing boards and professional discipline
- Education options, admissions, and financial aid
- Immigration status
- Gun ownership and firearm possession rights
- Family court issues involving custody, parenting time, or household stability
- Harsher penalties if you face another charge later
The goal is not only to fight the charge in court. It is also to protect your work, family, record, rights, and future wherever the facts and law give the defense room to push back.
Madison County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Madison County and Illinois.
- Illinois Criminal Defense Resources
- Illinois Criminal Defense Practice Areas
- Illinois Compiled Statutes
- Illinois Courts
- Illinois Supreme Court Rules
- Illinois Secretary of State
- Illinois State Police
- Illinois Department of Corrections
- Madison County Website
- Madison County Court
- Madison County Jail
- Madison County Sheriff’s Office
- Christopher Combs
- Steven Waterkotte
FAQs About Felony Charges in Collinsville, IL
What makes a charge a felony in Illinois?
In Illinois, an offense is treated as a felony when it can be punished by imprisonment for one year or more. Felony cases can involve prison exposure, probation, fines, supervised release, and consequences that continue after the case ends.
What are Class 4, Class 3, Class 2, Class 1, and Class X felonies?
Illinois groups most felony offenses into classes: Class 4, Class 3, Class 2, Class 1, and Class X. Class 4 sits at the lower end of felony sentencing, while Class X carries some of the most serious penalties below first-degree murder.
Can a felony conviction in Collinsville, IL lead to probation instead of prison?
Probation depends on the felony class, the specific offense, prior history, and whether any mandatory sentencing rules apply. Some lower-class felony cases may allow probation, while Class X felonies generally do not.
Can a felony charge be lowered in Illinois?
A felony charge may be reduced when the evidence supports a lesser offense, prosecutors overcharged the case, intent or possession is hard to prove, or the defense exposes problems with the State’s theory.
Can felony charges be dismissed?
A felony case can weaken quickly when evidence is missing, statements are suppressed, witnesses change their story, police crossed legal lines, or prosecutors cannot prove an essential element of the charge.
Should I talk to police if I am accused of a felony?
No. If you are accused of a felony or believe you are under investigation, speak with a criminal defense lawyer before answering questions from police, prosecutors, or investigators. Statements made early in the case can be used against you later.
When should I contact a felony charges lawyer?
Call a felony defense lawyer as early as possible, especially if police have contacted you, a warrant was executed, you were arrested, or charges have already been filed. The first few days can affect the rest of the case.
Speak With a Felony Charges Lawyer in Collinsville, IL Today
A felony case can start moving before you have the full picture. If you have been charged in Collinsville, IL, prosecutors may already be reviewing reports, police may still be gathering evidence, and release conditions may already affect your daily life.
Combs Waterkotte can step in, review the allegations, explain the risks, and start building a defense around the facts. We handle felony cases involving drugs, firearms, violent crimes, theft, sex offense allegations, homicide-related charges, and federal investigations.
Call (314) 900-HELP or reach out online to discuss your case with a felony defense lawyer in Collinsville, IL.
