Charged with a Violent Crime? Call the Noll Law Office’s Criminal Defense Attorneys Today for Assistance.
If you are accused of a violent crime, hiring an experienced criminal defense lawyer is the best way to ensure a positive outcome and avoid harsh penalties. The authorities ask for long prison sentences when prosecuting violent crime cases. It takes aggressive defense strategies and effective advocacy to properly represent you in court. The Noll Law Office will often utilize private investigators to obtain favorable evidence such as witness statements and undisclosed videos which support their client’s version of events.
The Noll Law Office has successfully defended murder cases, battery and aggravated battery charges, home invasion charges, and orders of protection allegations in Springfield, Illinois, and throughout Central Illinois. No matter what violent crime you are facing, the criminal defense lawyers at the Noll Law Office have the experience and skills required to handle your case.
Many violent crimes carry the potential for long prison sentences and the potential to lose your right to carry a weapon or vote. If you are facing one of the following charges, you need to contact their criminal defense lawyers in Springfield, Illinois immediately at (217) 414-8889 so they can answer your questions and explain your rights.
What types of violent crime cases do the Noll Law Office represent clients on?
The Noll Law Office will represent a person who has been charged with any violent offense in Springfield, Illinois, and the surrounding communities. Below, you will see a list of some of the charges the Noll Law Office has successfully defended, including:
- Aggravated Battery
- Aggravated Battery of a Police Officer
- Aggravated Battery with a Firearm
- Armed Robbery
- Attempt Murder
- Domestic Battery
- Home Invasion
- Involuntary Manslaughter
- Murder
- Order of Protection
- Reckless Homicide
- Resisting Arrest
- Second-Degree Murder
What process does the Noll Law Office use when it represents someone?
When the criminal defense lawyers at the Noll Law Office begin representing an individual accused of a violent crime, they utilize a process that has a successful track record of obtaining favorable results on cases.
- They speak to their clients. The lawyers need to have a factual understanding of what happened and who was involved. They need to identify potential witnesses who can provide favorable testimony and favorable evidence which may need to be obtained or preserved.
- Obtain and review the discovery. Generally, discovery includes police reports, body camera videos, surveillance videos, DNA tests, and other laboratory results.
- Review discovery with the client for potential factual or legal defenses.
- Finalize discovery – After the legal and factual defenses have been reviewed, additional discovery may be needed. On occasion, discovery requests may need to be sent to the prosecutor. If they are unwilling to provide the documents, it may need to be litigated in court.
- File pretrial motions. After the Noll Law Office is in receipt of the discovery, pretrial motions are filed. These motions present all the legal and evidentiary issues the court needs to rule on prior to trial.
- Negotiate a favorable outcome. The attorneys will often attempt to negotiate with the prosecutors to attempt to obtain an offer to resolve the case short of trial. If the offer is acceptable to the prosecutor and the Defendant, the defendant would plead guilty to whatever the terms of the plea agreement are.
- Take the case to trial. If the parties are unable to come to an agreement, the case would proceed forward to trial. There are two types of trial – jury trial or bench trial. A jury trial is where members of the community come in and hear the evidence to determine whether a person is guilty. In a bench trial, the judge determines whether the accused is guilty.
- If a person is found guilty of some or all the charges, the case would proceed forward to sentencing. At a sentencing hearing, the judge determines the appropriate sentence given the charges the person was found guilty of as well as several other statutory factors.
- If necessary, present mitigating evidence at the sentencing hearing.
Can I claim self-defense in Illinois?
To raise the defense of self-defense successfully, the defendant is required to present at least some evidence in support of each of the following elements: (1) the victim threatened force against the defendant; (2) the defendant was the aggressor; (3) the danger of harm was imminent; (4) the force the victim threatened was unlawful; (5) defendant actually believed that (a) a danger existed, (b) force was necessary to avert the danger, and (c) the amount of force defendant used was necessary; and (6) these beliefs were reasonable. Once the defense is raised, a question of fact arises concerning whether the defendant’s belief was reasonable. The burden then shifts to the state to prove the defendant’s use of force was not justified. People v. Clarke, 245 Ill. App. 3d 99, 184 Ill. Dec. 191, 612 N.E.2d 1351 (2d Dist. 1993).
Discharging a firearm at a person can be a split-second decision that can have lifelong ramifications. The criminal defense lawyers at the Noll Law Office have successfully defended clients who acted in self-defense when they used a firearm or other weapon on an assailant. Their attorneys know the law regarding self-defense and have successfully applied it in murder cases, attempted murder cases, aggravated battery charges, and other violent crimes. If you believe you have a valid self-defense claim, obtaining an experienced and aggressive litigator will be an important part of proving that you had legal justification for your actions.
What is the difference between a factual defense and a legal defense in Illinois?
Factual defenses differ from legal defenses. For example, a factual defense could be that the accused was not in the City of Springfield when the prosecutor alleges the crime occurred. This is a credibility assessment that the jury or the judge would make. This differs from a legal defense in which the judge is the sole decision maker. Normally, a legal defense alleges that law enforcement obtained evidence in violation of the accused’s constitutional rights. By way of example, if law enforcement obtained an incriminating statement from the Defendant while they were in custody and without their Miranda warning, that statement should be “suppressed” and not be allowed as evidence against the accused.
What geographical area does the Noll Law Office represent clients in?
The criminal defense lawyers at the Noll Law Office are located in Springfield, Illinois. They have represented clients accused of violent crimes throughout the State of Illinois. Most of their cases are located in:
- Central District of Illinois (Springfield, Peoria, and Urbana)
- Springfield, Sangamon County
- Jacksonville, Morgan County
- Hillsboro, Montgomery County
- Carlinville, Macoupin County
- Petersburg, Menard County
- Virginia, Cass County
- Lincoln, Logan County
- Taylorville, Christian County
If your case is outside of that geographical area, they still may represent you. Call them today and they can tell you if it is a case they would handle and what the fee would be.
How do I find the best criminal defense lawyer for my violent crime charge(s)?
If you are charged with a violent crime, your freedom is in jeopardy. You are likely facing a jail or prison sentence, loss of your right to carry a firearm, and hefty fines. Whether it is the Noll Law Office or another law firm, you should make sure you have a lawyer who is qualified to represent you in court.
If you are charged with a violent crime, these are some of the questions we recommend you ask a lawyer before hiring them on your case:
- How long have you been practicing law?
- How often do you practice where the case is located?
- Do you have experience with the judge and prosecutor?
- How many cases with my charges have you handled in your career?
- Have you handled any like mine?
- When was the last time you represented someone charged with a violent crime?
- What type of results have you gotten for people in my situation?
- Have you ever presented self-defense to a jury?
- Do you go to trial?
- When was the last time you had a jury trial that went to a verdict?
- How many jury trials do you do a year?
- What is your fee?
- Are there any additional expenses I should anticipate?
How can the Noll Law Office help me with my case?
The criminal defense lawyers at the Noll Law Office have substantial experience defending individuals who have been accused of violent crimes. They are trial lawyers who will challenge the prosecutor’s evidence and vigorously defend their clients in court. Their lawyers understand criminal law and know how to identify legal and factual defenses which can help obtain favorable results for clients. If you need additional evidence of their abilities, feel free to look at the Google reviews left by former clients.
In each case, the Noll Law Office will:
- Identify all legal and factual defenses which may be available;
- Identify potential witnesses and favorable evidence which may exist;
- File all applicable pretrial motions;
- Negotiate a plea offer to resolve the case prior to trial;
- Take the case to trial if required; and
- Obtain and present mitigating evidence to the Court if needed.
If you or your loved one has been charged with a violent crime, contact the Noll Law Office today at (217) 414-8889. They offer free initial consultations and have financing available.