When someone in Illinois is charged with a crime, it’s not proof of anything. Every defendant is guaranteed the opportunity to contest the formal accusations in court. There are often several criminal defense strategies that may help mitigate certain circumstances, sometimes even to the point of getting a case dismissed.
A 58-year-old woman from downstate has been accused of embezzling more than $160,000 from Illinois State University. She is employed by the state and has been charged with stealing funds from the student center. The woman was arrested on a recent Monday, just after 9 a.m. after she was supposedly caught on film, stuffing money into her clothing.
Video evidence is not always reliable. In fact, there are a number of legal issues that must be addressed before a video can be admitted into evidence in criminal court. Even it is ultimately ruled admissible, prosecutors would still have to prove that the person depicted on the video is, in fact, who they claim it to be.
The now former university worker was charged with a Class X felony. Because of this, she is not eligible for probation, if convicted. While prosecutors requested bond set at $100,000, the judge overseeing the case ordered the woman’s release on a personal cognizance bond of $25,000 instead. Anyone facing similar legal problems in Illinois may request a consultation with an experienced criminal defense attorney at any time. This is a first logical step to take when accused of a crime, especially one with potentially significant long-term consequences.
