Peoria Illinois Burglary Attorney

Galesburg County Breaking & Entering Lawyer

Peoria, Illinois: Criminal Defense for Burglary Charges

Any charge of residential burglary is a class 1 felony that carries a mandatory prison sentence of 4 to 15 years. Burglary is defined as entering or remaining in a residential building without authorization and with the intent to steal or commit another felony.

Over the course of over 18 years of criminal defense practice, Peoria criminal defense Maureen Williams has successfully defended clients against serious burglary and armed burglary charges. Contact her office to schedule an initial consultation.

Burglary cases provide a good illustration of how prosecuting attorneys must be able to prove every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt:

• Ms. Williams overturned a burglary conviction on appeal by proving that no evidence was presented to prove that her client had the intent to steal anything — and thus her client could not be proved to have committed burglary.
• In another case, Ms. Williams challenged the charges by arguing that no evidence proved that her client went into an office building with the intent to steal — and could not be proved to have committed burglary. While her client's DNA was present in the office, the client was an employee who had authorized access to the room. There were no fingerprints on the windows or other evidence to prove that the client entered the room without authorization at a time when it was locked.

A Hard-Working Defense Lawyer Who Pays Attention to the Details

Attorney Maureen Williams is a solo defense lawyer who limits her caseload in order to make sure she has ample time and energy to devote to each client. She listens to her clients' information, conducts her own independent investigations and reviews all the evidence collected by the police. Her sharp eye for detail helps her pick up useful information that other lawyers might miss. Often, criminal cases are won or lost in the details.

Honest Advice About Your Best Legal Options

Attorney Williams is also known as a straight-shooting criminal defense lawyer who offers a practical assessment of the evidence for and against her clients. She also gives her clients commonsense advice about the possible consequences and likelihood of success for different strategies so they can the legal option best for their circumstances.

Charged With Breaking and Entering? Contact the Law Offices of Maureen Williams

To schedule an in-office consultation with Peoria criminal defense attorney Maureen Williams, call toll free at 866-321-5228 or send an e-mail.