Criminal Defense Attorney in Lake County, Illinois

Reviewed by Alan E. Jones, an Illinois criminal defense attorney and Principal at Alan E. Jones, P.C. Last updated September 23, 2026.

Alan E. Jones has practiced criminal defense exclusively in Lake County, Illinois courts since 1989, and his case range runs from misdemeanor citations through murder defense, including two Illinois death penalty cases tried before Illinois abolished capital punishment in 2011. A criminal charge frequently arrives alongside a traffic or licence problem that runs on its own separate timetable, which is why this office keeps criminal defence, DUI, traffic, and reinstatement work under one roof across its Lake County criminal and traffic practice areas. As a Lake County criminal defense attorney, I run my practice by a simple philosophy, “Attorneys Advise, Clients Decide,” which means my job is to give you a clear, honest reading of your options in the 19th Judicial Circuit so you can make the decisions that are yours to make.

What Counts as a Crime Under Illinois Law?

Under Illinois law, a crime is any act the state punishes by incarceration or fine, classified as either a misdemeanor or a felony under the Criminal Code of 2012, 720 ILCS 5. Misdemeanors carry up to 364 days in county jail, and felonies carry a possible prison sentence of one year or more. The class assigned to the offense sets the sentencing range a court may impose.

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office makes that classification decision at the outset, and it fixes the range of outcomes available to everyone afterward, including the judge. The same underlying conduct can support either grade, since a theft is graded by the value taken and a battery by the injury alleged and who was harmed. Once the grade is set, it determines whether the case can resolve with supervision or probation, whether a prison sentence is available at all under the ranges in Article 5-4.5 of the Unified Code of Corrections, and which collateral consequences attach on conviction. Illinois fixes those ranges by class rather than by individual offense, so two very different charges carrying the same class carry the same statutory exposure. That is why the charge itself, rather than the eventual sentence, is usually the first thing a defense attorney tests.

What Are the Penalties for a Criminal Conviction in Illinois?

Illinois sentencing ranges are fixed by statute in the Unified Code of Corrections, with the general felony provisions at 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-50. Felonies run from Class 4, the least serious, up to Class X, and misdemeanors run from Class C up to Class A. The table below sets out the standard sentencing exposure for each class, though enhancements and prior convictions can change the numbers in a given case.

A sentence is rarely just the number on the page. Many Illinois convictions also carry mandatory court costs, periods of supervised release, and collateral effects that follow a person for years. When I review a Lake County case, I look at the full exposure, including the consequences that never appear in the statute, so you can weigh a plea offer against what a trial in the 19th Judicial Circuit might realistically produce.

What Does a Conviction Cost After the Sentence Ends?

The sentence in the table is the part of a conviction with an end date. Several of the consequences that matter most to a client’s life have none, and they attach by operation of other statutes rather than by anything the sentencing judge decides.

Firearm rights are the clearest example, because the rule is categorical rather than discretionary. Under 430 ILCS 65/8, the Illinois State Police have grounds to deny or revoke a Firearm Owner’s Identification Card for a person convicted of a felony under the laws of this or any other jurisdiction. The class of the felony does not matter and neither does the state it came from, so a decades-old out-of-state conviction reaches an Illinois FOID card the same way a recent Lake County one does.

Other consequences run through separate systems on their own terms. Professional licensing boards conduct their own review, and a conviction that carries no jail time at all can still trigger one. Employers and landlords running background checks see a conviction on a record long after any sentence is complete. For a client who is not a United States citizen, a conviction can carry immigration consequences that are decided in a different forum under federal law, which is why a plea that looks favorable in the criminal case is not always favorable overall.

This is the part of the exposure I price before a client evaluates a plea offer. A disposition that reduces jail exposure while triggering a consequence the client cannot live with is not the better outcome, and that comparison cannot be made without naming the collateral effects first.

What Criminal Charges Does Alan Jones Defend in Lake County?

Alan E. Jones, P.C. defends the full range of misdemeanor and felony charges filed in Lake County, from first-time offenses to serious felonies. Over more than 35 years in the 19th Judicial Circuit, Alan Jones has handled cases that include drug offenses, theft and property crimes, weapons charges, domestic battery, and DUI, along with two Illinois death penalty cases tried before Illinois abolished capital punishment in 2011, in neither of which a death sentence was imposed.

The charges I most often defend for Lake County clients include:

• Drug crimes: Possession and delivery offenses under the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, 720 ILCS 570, and cannabis offenses under 720 ILCS 550. Possession under 720 ILCS 570/402 is graded up to Class 1 rather than Class X, a distinction worth knowing because the Class 1 range is long enough to be mistaken for one. Methamphetamine is excluded from both Acts by their own terms and is charged under the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act instead.
• Theft: Charges under 720 ILCS 5/16-1, where the value taken decides the grade. Illinois crosses from misdemeanor to felony at $500 for property not taken from the person, a line well below the $1,000 threshold used in several neighboring states. Burglary is charged separately under 720 ILCS 5/19-1 and retail theft under 720 ILCS 5/16-25, each with its own grading.
• Weapons and firearms charges: Unlawful possession of weapons under 720 ILCS 5/24-1, and aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon under 720 ILCS 5/24-1.6, where the aggravating circumstances alleged determine how the offense is graded.
• Domestic battery: Charges under 720 ILCS 5/12-3.2, where the relationship between the parties is an element the State must prove.
• DUI and related driving offenses: Charges under 625 ILCS 5/11-501, defended through my Lake County DUI defense practice.
• Felony defense: Serious charges handled through my felony defense practice in the 19th Judicial Circuit.

How Does a Criminal Case Move Through the Lake County Courts?

A Lake County criminal case generally begins with an arrest or a filed charge, followed by an arraignment in the 19th Judicial Circuit Court in Waukegan where the defendant enters a plea and the court sets the conditions of pretrial release. From there the case moves through pretrial hearings, the exchange of evidence known as discovery, and possible motions, before it resolves by dismissal, plea, or trial.

Each stage is a chance to shape the outcome. At the pretrial phase I examine whether the Lake County Sheriff’s deputies or local police had a lawful basis for the stop, the search, and the arrest, because evidence gathered in violation of your rights can be challenged. Where the State’s case has a genuine weakness, I raise it early with the prosecutor rather than waiting, since a problem the State cannot fix is often the strongest reason for a reduced charge or a dismissal in the 19th Judicial Circuit.

When a young person is charged, the stakes and the procedures are both different, and the case moves on a separate track from the adult courtroom. My guidance for parents of a charged juvenile explains how those cases move through the Lake County system and what a parent can expect at each stage.

What Happens at a Pretrial Release Hearing in Illinois?

Illinois abolished monetary bail under 725 ILCS 5/110-1.5, which took effect September 18, 2023 by order of the Illinois Supreme Court in Rowe v. Raoul. Under 725 ILCS 5/110-2, release on personal recognizance is the presumption. For certain charges the State may petition the court to detain the defendant before trial under 725 ILCS 5/110-6.1. That section sets the standard as well as the procedure. All defendants are presumed eligible for pretrial release, and the State bears the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that the proof is evident or the presumption great that the defendant committed an offense the statute lists as detainable, that the defendant poses a real and present threat to the safety of a person or the community based on the specific articulable facts of the case, and that no condition or combination of conditions of release can mitigate that threat or the defendant’s willful flight. Defense counsel appears at that hearing to contest each element and to argue for the least restrictive conditions.

What Is Court Supervision in Illinois?

Court supervision is a disposition rather than a sentence, and it is the ordinary way an Illinois case ends without a conviction. Under 730 ILCS 5/5-6-1 a court may defer further proceedings and the imposition of sentence and order supervision instead. The period runs no longer than two years, and a defendant who satisfies every condition is discharged with the charges dismissed, which 730 ILCS 5/5-6-3.1 deems without adjudication of guilt and not a conviction. Supervision is unavailable on any felony and barred on several Class A misdemeanors, including domestic battery.

What Happens When the State Alleges a Probation Violation?

A probation violation is heard in the same 19th Judicial Circuit courtroom as the underlying case, but it is not a new prosecution and it does not carry the same burden. Under 730 ILCS 5/5-6-4, the State has the burden of going forward with the evidence and of proving the violation by the preponderance of the evidence, rather than beyond a reasonable doubt. That is a materially lower standard, and it is the single most important thing to understand about these hearings.

The exposure is whatever the original sentence left available. Where probation was imposed in place of a prison term, revocation puts the full statutory range for the original class back on the table, which is why a violation on a Class 2 felony probation can produce a worse outcome than the charge that started it. Where the alleged violation is a new offense, the two cases proceed together and a decision in one affects the other.

What Evidence Decides a Lake County Criminal Case?

A criminal case in Illinois turns on the charging instrument and the discovery it triggers. The charging document fixes what the State must prove, and discovery is where the defense first sees the police reports, the squad and body-camera video, the forensic testing, and the witness statements the case actually rests on.

Chain of custody determines how much weight physical evidence and laboratory results carry, and a substantial break in it can keep an item out of evidence altogether. Where the stop, the search, or a custodial statement violated the Fourth or Fifth Amendment, the evidence it produced can be challenged and suppressed, and a suppression ruling in the 19th Judicial Circuit often decides a case well before trial. Witness credibility carries the rest: what a witness said at the scene, what they said later, and whether the two accounts hold together. Sentencing exposure follows the class of the offense under the Unified Code of Corrections, 730 ILCS 5, which is why the grade of the charge shapes evidence strategy from the first court date rather than at the end.

How Does Alan Jones Defend Criminal Cases in Lake County?

Alan E. Jones, P.C. defends criminal cases by testing the State’s evidence at every step and by giving each client a candid assessment of the risks. As a solo practitioner, Alan Jones handles his Lake County cases personally, so the attorney who reviews the police reports is the same attorney who stands beside the client in the 19th Judicial Circuit Court.

That direct involvement is the heart of how I work. You will not be handed off to an associate or a paralegal, and you will not learn your options from someone who has never read your file. After more than 35 years defending clients in Lake County courts, I know the judges, the prosecutors, and the local procedure well enough to tell you early what a case is likely to do, and to fight hard where fighting can change the result. My flat-fee structure means you know the full cost before any work begins, so the decision about how to proceed stays yours.

What to Do After a Criminal Charge in Lake County

Write down what happened while you still remember it clearly, including the time of the stop, what officers said to you, and who else was present. Keep every document the court or the police gave you, including your release conditions and the notice of your next court date in Waukegan.

Do not discuss the case by phone from custody, by text, or on social media, because those records are routinely subpoenaed and they are rarely helpful to the person who created them. Do not consent to a search of your phone or your car, and do not agree to a follow-up interview without a lawyer present. If the court entered a no-contact order, follow it exactly, since violating one is a separate charge that can do more damage than the original case. Bring the charging document, your release conditions, and any paperwork from your first appearance to your first meeting with an attorney, along with the names of anyone who saw what happened.

Frequently Asked Questions About Criminal Defense in Illinois

What Is the Difference Between a Misdemeanor and a Felony in Illinois?

In Illinois, a misdemeanor is punishable by up to 364 days in county jail, while a felony carries a possible state prison sentence of one year or more. Misdemeanors are graded Class A, B, or C, and felonies are graded Class X, 1, 2, 3, or 4, from most to least serious. The classification decides the sentencing range and the long-term consequences, which is why the charge itself is often the first thing worth challenging.

What Happens at a Lake County Arraignment?

At an arraignment in the 19th Judicial Circuit Court in Waukegan, the judge formally reads the charges, the defendant enters a plea of guilty or not guilty, and the court addresses the conditions of pretrial release and future court dates. It is the first appearance where a defense attorney can begin protecting the client’s rights. Entering a not-guilty plea at this stage preserves every option and gives the defense time to review the evidence.

What Are My Rights if I Am Arrested in Illinois?

Anyone arrested in Illinois has the right to remain silent, the right to an attorney, and the right to be free from unreasonable searches. Police must respect these protections, and statements or evidence obtained in violation of them can sometimes be challenged and suppressed in court. The safest response after an arrest is to ask for a lawyer and to avoid explaining or arguing your case to the officers.

Can a Criminal Charge Be Reduced or Dismissed in Illinois?

Yes. A criminal charge in Illinois can sometimes be reduced to a lesser offense or dismissed, depending on the strength of the evidence, whether police followed proper procedure, and the circumstances of the case. An attorney reviews the discovery to identify weaknesses the prosecution must overcome. In Lake County, raising a genuine problem with the State’s proof early can open the door to a better result.

Do I Have to Appear in Court for a Misdemeanor in Illinois?

In many Illinois misdemeanor cases, an attorney can appear on the client’s behalf for routine court dates, though the judge may require the defendant to attend certain hearings. Missing a required court date can lead to a warrant, so it is important to confirm which appearances are mandatory. I let my Lake County clients know exactly when their presence in the 19th Judicial Circuit Court is needed.

Does a Felony Conviction Affect Firearm Rights in Illinois?

Yes. Under 430 ILCS 65/8, the Illinois State Police have grounds to deny or revoke a Firearm Owner’s Identification Card for a person convicted of a felony under the laws of this or any other jurisdiction. The provision does not distinguish among felony classes and does not exclude convictions from other states, so an out-of-state felony reaches an Illinois FOID card the same way an Illinois one does.

Related Practice Areas

• Traffic violations covers the moving violations, commercial driving citations, and suspended-license charges that are heard in the same Lake County courthouse and often accompany a criminal case.
• Driver’s license reinstatement addresses restoring driving privileges through the Illinois Secretary of State after a suspension or revocation, which runs separately from any criminal charge.
• Misdemeanor speeding ticket defense explains why a speeding charge graded as a misdemeanor carries criminal consequences a routine ticket does not.

Talk to a Lake County Criminal Defense Attorney

A criminal charge in Lake County is serious, but it is not the end of the story, and the choices you make early can shape everything that follows. I have defended clients in Waukegan and throughout the 19th Judicial Circuit for more than 35 years, from misdemeanor citations to the most serious felonies, and I handle every case personally. Call (847) 336-3900 or contact my Waukegan office online to schedule a free consultation, available 24/7. Se Habla Español.