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Crime is practically a foreign concept in Wheaton, Illinois. It is not just that the area has exceptionally lower crime rates than Chicago just 30 miles away. They are also far lower than the rates for both the country as a whole and the state of Illinois.
How low? According to Neighborhood Scout, the chances of someone becoming the victim of a property crime here are 1 in 138. Compare that to our state, where your chances are 1 in 50. The difference in violent crime is even more staggering: 1 in 2,335 in Wheaton compared to 1 in 261 for Illinois.
These are great statistics for the city, and especially comforting if you plan to raise a family here. There is, however, a dark side to this if you ever find yourself on the wrong side of the law in Wheaton.
When someone is accused of a crime here, it’s more of a big deal than if it were to happen in Chicago or other areas of Illinois that see higher crime rates. Your friends and neighbors are more likely to know about the problems you are facing, and your reputation will be negatively impacted. Additionally, you may face harsher penalties if area law enforcement officials decide to use your case as a deterrent to others.
Dupage County’s main courthouse is located in Wheaton. But aside from the main courthouse, Dupage County has several satellite courthouses in Glendale Heights, Addison, and Downers Grove. At any of these courthouses, there can be cases prosecuted by the Dupage County State’s Attorney’s Office or by local village prosecutors. Many village have their own code that lists specific offenses. For example Glendale Heights has a municipal code that lists offenses such as theft, retail theft, and unlawful use of weapons.
http://www.sterlingcodifiers.com/codebook/index.php?book_id=688
These charges are punishable by fine only. But the arresting agency can decide how they will write the ticket. Just because the offense occurred in a village with its own municipal code does not mean the defendant cannot be charged with a state crime. Usually, defendants charged with serious offenses such as driving under the influence of alcohol, or driving on a revoked license will face a State charge that can be prosecuted by the State’s Attorney’s Office or the local village prosecutor.
Criminal defense attorney Sami Azhari has seen these types of things happen again and again to clients, and he knows what it takes to fight back and protect your rights. He has been doing just that in and around Chicago for years, and he can help you, too.
Local police officers and prosecutors will likely try to convince you that you do not need a lawyer. That it is in your best interest to confess and take whatever deal they offer. That things will be worse for you if you fight back.
Do not fall for this. It is their job to convict you, and doing this is a lot easier if you are not working with an experienced legal professional.
Taking a deal may make the process go faster, but that does not mean it will be better for you. Depending on the crime and charges in question, you could end up serving time in prison, paying high fines, or experiencing other severe consequences if you do not fight back.
Plus, even if you believe that your deal is “good,” it means saying that you are guilty. Being convicted. Things that will show up on your criminal record for the rest of your life.
The best way to protect your rights and your future is to work with a criminal defense lawyer like Sami Azhari. With his in-depth knowledge of both Illinois and federal criminal law, Mr. Azhari can tell you whether or not the deal you are being offered really is a good one and make sure that you are using all of the tools at your disposal to achieve a positive outcome.
Mr. Azhari specializes in getting clients charges reduced, dropped, or dismissed before they ever enter a courtroom. In some cases, he has even been able to get clients’ cases dropped before charges are filed. The bottom line, though, is that Sami Azhari can give you an honest, realistic assessment of your situation so that you understand what your options are and what you should expect.
Mr. Azhari is committed to getting your charges dropped and helping you move forward without a conviction on your record – and as his case results show, he is very good at doing just that.
Beyond those results, Sami Azhari has also received quite a bit of recognition from his peers in the law, including:
The National Trial Lawyers – Named to the Top 100 Trial Lawyers and the Top 40 Under 40 from 2014-2016
SuperLawyers.com – Received a Superb Rating
Avvo – Received a Clients’ Choice Award in Criminal Defense and Federal Crime, earned a 10.0 Superb Rating, and named a Top Attorney for Criminal Defense
Mr. Azhari is also incredibly media savvy – a quality that can’t be underestimated in our culture of 24-hour news cycles and fear-mongering soundbites. His understanding of the press and willingness to take on high-profile cases has led to mentions in a number of media outlets such as:
ABC7
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
CBS2
Chicago Tribune
FOX32 Chicago
NBC5 Chicago
Univision Chicago
Sami Azhari is also driven by his passion for his community and helping others, and his belief that every single person deserves to have the strongest defense strategy possible. It is a belief that has led him to volunteer his time both to represent indigent defendants and to provide legal assistance to the Arabic-speaking communities in and around Chicago.
In other words, he cares, and he will give his all for you from the beginning of the process all the way through to the end. It starts with your free initial consultation, where Mr. Azhari will give you a good picture of what the next few weeks or months will look like: the process of collecting evidence, filing any motions, preparing your case, and preparing for the final outcome. Even after your trial is over, Sami Azhari can still help by leading you through the expungement or criminal record sealing processes. Whatever you need him for, Sami Azhari is there to help.
No matter what type of crime you have been accused of, you can trust Sami Azhari to walk you through your defense options and the obstacles you may encounter in your case. He has successfully represented clients accused of crimes including:
Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse and Assault
Criminal Sexual Abuse and Assault
Domestic Battery and Domestic Violence
Driver’s License Reinstatement
DUI Monitoring Device Driving Permit
Possession of Marijuana/Cannabis
Even if your charge is not on this list, Mr. Azhari may still be able to help. The best way to know for sure is to get in contact.
The sooner you reach out to Sami Azhari, the sooner he can work on getting your charges dropped and your life back on track. When it comes to criminal law, time really does matter, because certain types of evidence may not be admissible if you wait. Moreover, you can bet that prosecutors will be building their case against your regardless of what you do – waiting just gives them a head start.
Get in contact today for a free consultation by filling out our online case evaluation form, emailing sazhari@azharillc.com, or calling one of our two area offices:
Chicago:
(312) 626-2871
Rolling Meadows:
(847) 255-2100
Sami takes the time to learn about the specific facts and circumstances surrounding each case. Then with meticulous preparation and years of experience a unique strategy is developed to obtain the best result.
– Michael S.Sami is an excellent advocate, and really fights for his clients. He is an absolute professional. I recommend Sami to anyone who finds themselves in need of a criminal defense attorney.
– David S.
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