Violent Crimes Lawyer O’Fallon, IL — if you’ve been arrested or you’re under investigation, you need clear answers and fast action. Our violent crimes lawyers in O’Fallon, IL represent individuals accused of using or threatening force and work to protect your freedom, record, and future from the start. At Combs Waterkotte, our O’Fallon, IL criminal defense team acts quickly to begin building your defense as soon as you call.
At a Glance: Violent Crime Cases in O’Fallon, IL
- How Illinois defines a violent crime
- Types of violent crime charges our firm handles
- Possible punishments and sentencing ranges
- What to expect from prosecutors in these cases
- Defense strategies that work
- What to do if you’re arrested or under investigation
- What sets Combs Waterkotte apart
Free book
How a Criminal Defense Attorney Can Protect Your Rights and Future
Combs Waterkotte has over 60 years of experience and over 10,000 cases handled. This ebook helps guide you through the criminal defense process and how an experienced, skilled defense attorney can keep your freedoms intact.
What Is Considered a Violent Crime in Illinois?
Illinois law (725 ILCS 120/3) defines violent crime as:
- any felony offense involving the use or threat of force
- sex offenses involving exploitation, misconduct, or sexual penetration, including other related crimes listed in 720 ILCS 5
- domestic battery or stalking
- violating an order of protection or a no-contact order
- any misdemeanor that results in death or great bodily harm
- DUI, reckless homicide, or other vehicle-related offenses that cause injury or death
The label “violent” can also attach when a weapon is used, if serious injury occurs or if the victim is a protected person such as a child or someone with a disability.
Prosecutors in Illinois treat violent crime cases as serious public-safety priorities. This often leads to aggressive bond terms, requests for long prison sentences, and enhancement filings whenever possible.
Even before trial, you may face protective orders, travel limits, and constraints that affect work and family. Getting a violent crimes lawyer in O’Fallon, IL involved early increases your chances of protecting your rights and securing the best possible result.
Examples Violent Crime Charges We Defense in O’Fallon, IL
- Assault and Aggravated Assault: threatening someone with immediate harm. Becomes aggravated with a weapon, certain locations, or protected victims.
- Battery and Aggravated Battery: knowingly causing harm or offensive contact. Aggravation can involve serious injury, strangulation, weapon use, or protected victims.
- Domestic Battery: battery involving a family or household member. Cases often include no-contact orders and fast-moving hearings.
- Robbery and Armed Robbery: taking property by force or threat. Armed robbery involves a dangerous weapon or apparent firearm.
- Burglary, Residential Burglary, and Home Invasion (violent variants): illegally entering property with intent to commit a crime, made worse when people are home or injured.
- Sexual Assault / Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault: sexual acts by force or when a person can’t consent. Aggravated charges apply when weapons, injury, or multiple offenders are involved.
- Kidnapping / Aggravated Kidnapping: secretly confining or carrying a person by force or deception; penalties increase with ransom, injury, or weapon use.
- Arson / Aggravated Arson: damaging property by fire or explosion; aggravated when people are present, injured, or first responders are harmed.
- Homicide (Murder / Manslaughter / Reckless Homicide): cases involving intentional or reckless acts that result in death. Each carries specific elements the prosecution must prove and distinct possible defenses.
In every case, prosecutors must prove each element beyond a reasonable doubt. Our defense starts by forcing the prosecution to meet that burden on every element.
Every charge has elements the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt. Our defense begins by holding prosecutors to that standard for every element.
Penalties for Violent Crimes in Illinois
Penalties for violent crimes in O’Fallon, IL can include years or decades in prison, high fines, and long-term supervision. Sentences vary based on the offense class, aggravating factors, prior convictions, and any mandatory minimums.
Typical Sentencing Ranges
- First-Degree Murder: not classified by felony level; carries 20–60 years in prison, up to natural life for aggravating factors. No probation or early release.
- Class X Felony: punishable by 6–30 years in prison, with possible extended terms and limited probation eligibility.
- Class 1 Felony: commonly 4–15 years; extended terms possible depending on facts and priors.
- Class 2 Felony: generally 3–7 years, with probation sometimes available depending on the case.
- Class 3 and Class 4 Felonies: carry shorter prison ranges, with probation eligibility determined by the statute and record.
Collateral Consequences You Shouldn’t Ignore
- Employment and licensing: background checks and professional discipline.
- Housing and education: denials based on felony records or disciplinary findings.
- Firearm rights: permanent bans often imposed after violent felony convictions.
- Immigration status: deportation risk or inadmissibility issues for non-citizens.
- Protective orders and no-contact terms: restrictions on travel, communication, and contact with specific individuals.
An experienced violent crimes lawyer in O’Fallon, IL can often reduce exposure by challenging enhancements, negotiating reduced charges, or exploiting weaknesses in the prosecution’s evidence.
How Prosecutors Approach Violent Crime Cases in O’Fallon, IL
Prosecutors usually start with the most serious charge possible, pile on multiple counts from one event, and add enhancements for weapons, injuries, or protected victims.
They may argue for detention, oppose bond reductions, and resist diversion. During discovery, prosecutors rely heavily on 911 calls, bodycam footage, forensic tests, medical files, phone records, and social media posts. They often use hearsay exceptions before trial and file motions in limine to restrict defense evidence.
Knowing their playbook matters. Our violent crimes defense team in O’Fallon, IL includes former prosecutors who know how the state builds cases. That experience lets us predict the state’s tactics, attack weak or unreliable evidence, and focus the trial on what can actually be proved to a jury.
How a Violent Crimes Lawyer in O’Fallon, IL Builds Your Defense
Our violent crime attorneys in O’Fallon, IL start investigating immediately, challenge unlawful evidence, question faulty IDs, and build a credible alternate narrative based on facts and law. The objective is leverage—achieving a dismissal, reduction, or strong trial position.
- Independent investigation: gather statements, collect surveillance footage, preserve evidence, and confirm timelines before memories fade.
- Identification challenges: question show-ups and lineups, lighting, distance, stress, cross-racial ID, and suggestiveness. Eyewitness certainty isn’t the same as accuracy.
- Forensic scrutiny: examine chain of custody, lab methods, contamination risk, and margin of error for DNA mixtures, gunshot residue, trajectory, or fire origin analysis.
- Fourth and Fifth Amendment issues: challenge illegal stops, warrantless searches, Miranda violations, or forced confessions.
- Intent and degree: show lack of premeditation, absence of specific intent, or facts supporting a lesser-included offense rather than the charged crime.
- Self-defense / defense of others: establish reasonable fear and proportionate response, using physical evidence and witnesses to refute the prosecution’s version.
- Alternative explanations: present evidence of accident, another suspect, or facts that contradict the prosecution’s story.
- Negotiation strategy: once leverage exists, pursue charge reductions, sentencing caps, treatment-based outcomes, or dismissals.
Our violent crime lawyers in O’Fallon, IL focus on achieving the best possible result in every case. Acting quickly gives you more control and more defense options.
What To Do If You’re Arrested or Under Investigation for a Violent Crime in O’Fallon, IL
- Don’t talk to police without a lawyer. Even “clearing things up” can be used against you later.
- Don’t consent to searches. If officers have a warrant, ask to see it; otherwise, say you do not consent.
- Preserve evidence. Save messages, call logs, photos, clothing, and contact info for potential witnesses.
- Write down details. Times, locations, who said what, badge numbers, and any cameras nearby.
- Call a violent crimes lawyer in O’Fallon, IL immediately so they can protect your rights and direct your next moves.
Minor decisions in the beginning can lead to major legal consequences later. When in doubt, pause and call counsel.
Why Hire Combs Waterkotte for a Violent Crimes Case in O’Fallon, IL
When your liberty and future are on the line, quick action and proven experience matter most. Combs Waterkotte takes on complex, high-stakes cases and brings clarity and control when things feel chaotic. We win cases other O’Fallon, IL criminal defense law firms won’t even take.
Our approach is simple: act fast, investigate deeply, and fight intelligently.
- Decades of defense experience handling serious felonies and violent crime cases across Illinois.
- Trial-ready preparation that builds leverage both in negotiations and in front of a jury.
- Strategic resources including investigators and forensic specialists when needed to strengthen your defense.
- Clear communication and client-first service so you always understand what’s happening and what comes next. We don’t bill by the hour—you’ll have your attorney’s direct cell number and can reach them anytime with questions.
- Relentless advocacy focused on dismissals, reductions, and the best possible outcomes.
Free book
How to Choose a Criminal Defense Lawyer
Charged with a crime? The lawyer you hire matters. Combs Waterkotte, recognized for top-tier criminal defense in Missouri and Southern Illinois, created this guide to help you find the right attorney. Learn what to look for, key questions to ask, and red flags to avoid.
Contact a Violent Crimes Lawyer in O’Fallon, IL
If you or a loved one are under investigation or charged with a violent crime in O’Fallon, IL, don’t delay. Getting a violent crimes lawyer in O’Fallon, IL involved early gives you the best chance to safeguard your rights, freedom, and future.
Contact Combs Waterkotte online or call (314) 900-HELP for a free, confidential consultation with a violent crimes lawyer in O’Fallon, IL that is ready to act now. We’ll answer your questions, map your next steps, and start building your defense today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Violent Crime Charges
Can I claim self-defense in a violent crime case?
Yes — but only when the facts back it up. Self-defense requires a reasonable belief that force was necessary to prevent imminent harm. The details matter: who escalated, whether a weapon was present, the proportionality of force, and what independent evidence shows. A thorough investigation is key.
What if the alleged victim doesn’t want to press charges?
The State can still prosecute. Prosecutors decide whether to proceed. They may rely on 911 audio, medical records, officer testimony, and other evidence even if the complainant is reluctant. Your attorney’s job is to confront the evidence head-on, not assume the case will simply disappear.
Will I go to prison for a first offense?
Not automatically. Outcomes depend on the charge class, enhancements, prior record, and the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence. Acting early can create leverage for plea deals or alternatives, particularly when your lawyer challenges weak evidence.
Should I speak to detectives if I’m “not a suspect” yet?
Always speak with a lawyer first. Even casual conversations can still be used against you. Anything you say can be misunderstood, misquoted, or taken out of context. A lawyer can communicate for you and prevent avoidable damage.
Do I need a lawyer if I’m only a witness?
Yes — that’s usually smart. Anyone connected to a criminal event can easily shift from “witness” to “suspect.” A short consult protects you from self-incrimination risks and helps you respond appropriately to subpoenas or interviews.
