Andrew Affrunti

Illinois weapons laws are strict, detailed, and easy to misunderstand. A person may have a FOID card, a concealed carry license, or no criminal history and still face a weapons charge if they carry the wrong item, possess a firearm in the wrong place, or fall into a prohibited category. Weapons charges in Illinois can […]

Being arrested in Illinois can put your freedom, record, job, license, and future at risk fast. The first few hours after an arrest are not the time to explain your side, post online, contact witnesses, or make rushed decisions without legal guidance. Even small mistakes can affect pretrial release, court conditions, plea options, and the

A first arrest in Illinois can feel confusing, urgent, and frightening. You may not know whether you will be released, when court starts, what the charges mean, or whether the arrest will stay on your record. The most important thing to understand is that an arrest is not a conviction. What happens next depends on

Quick Answer Illinois weapons charges can involve firearms, brass knuckles, Tasers, stun guns, switchblades, ballistic knives, clubs, prohibited firearm accessories, and weapons carried in restricted locations. Whether the item leads to charges depends on the weapon type, location, FOID or concealed carry status, prior record, how the item was carried, and whether police believe it

An unknown warrant in Illinois creates serious problems fast. You might find out during a traffic stop, background check, job screening, airport security issue, or routine police contact. One minute, you think everything is fine. The next, an officer tells you there is an active warrant. This often happens when someone misses court, moves to

A weapon found during a traffic stop in Illinois can quickly turn a routine stop into a criminal investigation. Police may secure the weapon, question the driver or passengers, review FOID or concealed carry status, and decide whether the item was lawfully possessed, transported, or accessible. The outcome depends on the weapon type, where it

Quick Answer Police can search your car during a traffic stop in Illinois only if they have a legal reason, such as your consent, probable cause, a valid warrant, evidence in plain view, a lawful arrest-related reason, or a proper inventory search after towing. A basic traffic stop does not automatically give police the right

Quick Answer If police find brass knuckles in your car in Illinois, you may face a weapons charge even if the item was never used. The outcome depends on where the brass knuckles were found, whether you knew they were there, whether you had control over that area, and whether the traffic stop or vehicle

Quick Answer If police find a Taser or stun gun during a traffic stop in Illinois, you may face weapons-related questions or charges depending on where the device was found, whether it was accessible, whether you had a valid FOID card, whether you knew it was there, and whether the vehicle search was lawful. Illinois

Quick Answer Felony charges in Springfield, IL can carry prison exposure, probation limits, fines, firearm restrictions, mandatory supervised release, and a permanent criminal record. Illinois felony classes generally range from Class 4 to Class X, with Class X carrying the highest standard sentencing range below first-degree murder. The penalty depends on the felony class, charge