Felony Charges Lawyer in Union County, IL. If police, prosecutors, or the court system are treating your case as a felony, the stakes are already high. A felony charge in Union County, IL can threaten your freedom, record, career, family, housing, immigration status, firearm rights, and long-term plans. Most people want answers right away:
How serious is this? Am I looking at prison time? Can this be lowered, dismissed, or fought? What should I do before I say anything?
For clients in Union County, IL and across Illinois, Combs Waterkotte handles serious felony cases from the first investigation through trial preparation. 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 help clients get out of the fog, understand what they are up against, and begin building a defense before the case hardens around the State’s version of events.
Cases Handled
Over 10,000
Jail Days Saved
Over 1 Million
Google Reviews
500+ Perfect
Legal Experience
Over 80 Years
To get help now, call Combs Waterkotte at (314) 900-HELP or reach out online to speak with a criminal defense lawyer in Union County, IL.
Below, we cover:
- How Illinois law defines a felony
- The difference between Class 4, Class 3, Class 2, Class 1, and Class X felonies
- Drug, weapons, theft, violent crime, sex crime, homicide-related, and federal felony cases
- What to do after a felony arrest or charge in Union County, IL
- How defense lawyers challenge evidence, police conduct, witness claims, and charging decisions
- Whether felony charges can be reduced or dismissed
- Collateral consequences of a felony conviction, including employment, housing, licensing, immigration, firearm rights, custody, and more
- Answers to common felony charge questions for people in Union County, 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 Union County, 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. Important questions may involve:
- Whether police had legal grounds for the stop, search, arrest, or seizure
- Whether witnesses are reliable, consistent, or able to identify the right person
- How forensic evidence, phone data, surveillance footage, lab results, or digital records were collected and interpreted
- Whether police questioned you lawfully or pushed for statements they should not be able to use
- Whether the facts support the charge, or point to something lesser, weaker, or different
The earliest days of a felony case can shape everything that follows. A felony defense lawyer can protect your rights, explain what you are facing, identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, and help you avoid decisions that create bigger problems later.
Felony Charges Under Illinois Law
In Illinois, a felony is a criminal offense punishable by one year or more of imprisonment. Compared with misdemeanors, felony charges carry higher stakes, including possible prison time, probation, fines, restitution, mandatory supervised release, and consequences that can follow you well after court.
Illinois separates felony offenses into classes, starting with Class 4 at the lower end and moving up through Class X, which covers some of the most serious felony charges below first-degree murder.
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 |
The ranges above are only the starting point. Prior convictions, offense-specific sentencing rules, alleged aggravating facts, and the details of the charge can all affect the possible penalties. Fines, restitution, mandatory supervised release, registration requirements, immigration consequences, firearm restrictions, and other collateral consequences may also apply.
Criminal Defense for Felony Charges in Union County, IL
A felony accusation in Union County, IL may come from a street-level arrest, a long-running investigation, a search warrant, a controlled buy, a digital investigation, or allegations made by another person. Combs Waterkotte handles serious felony cases in Illinois state and federal courts.
Combs Waterkotte represents clients in Union County, IL in felony cases involving:
- Drug crimes: These cases can involve possession, intent to distribute, trafficking, manufacturing, conspiracy, controlled buys, informants, lab testing, or search and seizure issues.
- Weapons and firearm offenses: These cases may involve unlawful possession, felon-in-possession allegations, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, or firearm enhancements tied to another charge.
- Violent crimes: Aggravated assault, aggravated battery, robbery, and related offenses often turn on intent, injury, identification, self-defense, or witness credibility.
- 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: Felony domestic violence cases can affect where you live, who you can contact, child custody issues, firearm rights, and related assault, battery, or protection order allegations.
- Homicide-related charges: Cases involving murder, felony murder, second-degree murder, reckless homicide, or manslaughter may turn on what caused the death, what the accused intended, whether self-defense applies, and what the forensic evidence actually shows.
- White collar and financial crimes: Fraud, theft, identity theft, forgery, and financial crime cases often involve records, transactions, digital evidence, and intent.
- Probation violations: If prosecutors allege a probation violation, the court may revisit sentencing, impose new conditions, or consider prison depending on the facts.
- 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.
What to Do After a Felony Arrest or Charge in Union County, IL
After a felony arrest, things can move quickly: police questions, court dates, release conditions, phone calls, paperwork, and pressure from every direction. This is also when small mistakes can create bigger problems.
If you think you are under investigation or already facing a felony charge, start here:
- Immediately invoke your right to remain silent and your right to an attorney.
- Do not try to explain your side to police without your lawyer there.
- Avoid contacting alleged victims, witnesses, co-defendants, or anyone else connected to the allegations.
- Do not post about the arrest, accusation, alleged facts, police, witnesses, or court dates online.
- Preserve messages, photos, videos, call logs, location data, and social media content, even if you think it looks bad.
- Save anything that may help your defense, including screenshots, receipts, location data, names of witnesses, and videos.
- Do not guess about your bond or pretrial release conditions. Follow them closely and ask your lawyer before taking any risk.
- Get a criminal defense lawyer in Union County, IL involved early so the defense can start before the case hardens around the State’s version of events.
Trying to explain yourself can feel natural, especially when you know there is more to the story. The risk is that police may already be building the case around a different version of events. Before you answer questions, sign documents, consent to a search, or keep talking, get legal advice.
How a Union County, IL Felony Defense Lawyer Builds Your Case
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.
Combs Waterkotte helps 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 find information, identify witnesses, and examine details police may have missed
- Challenging unlawful stops, searches, seizures, arrests, and interrogations
- Filing motions to suppress evidence or statements when appropriate
- Reviewing forensic reports, phone data, firearm evidence, medical records, financial records, lab results, and other technical evidence
- Looking for gaps, contradictions, assumptions, or missing details in witness testimony and police reports
- Negotiating with prosecutors when a favorable resolution is possible
- Getting the case ready for trial when negotiations do not produce a fair result
A felony defense may focus on motions, negotiations, mitigation, trial preparation, or all of them at once. The stronger the preparation, the more pressure the defense can put on the State’s evidence, witnesses, and assumptions.
Reducing or Dismissing Felony Charges in Union County, IL
A felony charge does not always stay exactly as filed. Depending on the evidence, the investigation, and the facts behind the accusation, there may be room to challenge the charge, push for a reduction, or seek dismissal.
In some cases, the goal is to move the charge down before sentencing or trial. That may be possible when the State’s theory is too broad, the facts are weaker than the charge suggests, or mitigation gives prosecutors a reason to consider a different outcome.
A dismissal may be possible when police violated your rights, key evidence is suppressed, witnesses are unreliable, the prosecution cannot prove an essential element, or the facts do not support the accusation. Combs Waterkotte looks for those pressure points early and uses them to push for the strongest available outcome.
Read more: Can Criminal Charges be Dropped in Illinois?
How a Felony Conviction Can Affect Your Life in Union County, IL
A felony conviction can follow a person long after the criminal case ends. Prison is often the first fear, but it is not the only consequence.
Depending on the case, collateral consequences may affect:
- Job opportunities, background checks, and future applications
- Housing opportunities
- Licensing boards and professional discipline
- Education options, admissions, and financial aid
- Visas, green cards, naturalization, or removal risks
- Firearm 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.
Union County Resources
Below are quick links to important websites that may assist you with your legal matters in Union 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
- Union County Website
- Union County Court
- Union County Jail
- Union County Sheriff’s Office
- Christopher Combs
- Steven Waterkotte
Felony Charges in Union County, IL: Frequently Asked Questions
What is considered a felony in Illinois?
Under Illinois law, a felony is a criminal offense punishable by one year or more in a penitentiary. Compared with misdemeanors, felony charges carry higher stakes, including possible prison time, probation, fines, mandatory supervised release, and lasting consequences.
What are the felony classes in Illinois?
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 you get probation for a felony in Union County, IL?
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.
How can felony charges be reduced?
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.
When 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.
What should I say to police if I am under felony investigation?
If police want to question you about a felony, invoke your right to remain silent and ask for a lawyer. A defense lawyer can help you decide what, if anything, should be said.
When should I contact a felony charges lawyer?
The sooner a lawyer gets involved, the sooner your defense can begin reviewing evidence, protecting your rights, identifying weaknesses, and helping you avoid decisions that create problems later.
Talk to a Felony Charges Lawyer in Union County, IL Today
If you are facing felony charges in Union County, IL, do not wait for the case to get worse before getting legal help. Prosecutors may already be reviewing evidence. Police may still be investigating. Conditions of release may already limit what you can do.
Combs Waterkotte can review the charge, explain what you are facing, and begin building your defense. Whether your case involves drugs, weapons, violence, theft, sex offense allegations, homicide-related charges, or a federal felony, we are ready to help.
If you need help with felony charges in Union County, IL, call Combs Waterkotte at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online today.
