Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Defendant’s Conviction is Upheld for Aggravated Battery of a Police Officer
An Illinois defendant was convicted of aggravated battery of a police officer. He appealed the ruling on the grounds that there was insufficient evidence to support such a claim. The Illinois 5th Circuit Court of Appeals denied his claim and found that there was sufficient evidence to support a conviction. In this article, the… Read More »
Defendant Convicted of Murder Wins Appeal for Evidentiary Hearing
In July of 2007, defendant James Miller was convicted of two counts of murder and one count of robbery following a shooting that occurred outside the Time Out Lounge in Alton, IL. As a result of the conviction, the defendant was sentenced to natural life in prison. In his direct appeal, the defendant alleged… Read More »
Defendant Charged with Being an Armed Habitual Criminal & Battery with a Firearm
In People v. Perkins, the defendant, Antonio R. Perkins, was charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, possession of a weapon by a felon, and being an armed habitual criminal. Both aggravated battery with a firearm and being an armed habitual criminal are considered class-X felonies under Illinois law, the most serious you can… Read More »
Illinois Defendant Charged for the Murder of His Parents
In the case, People v. Ritcheson, the defendant, Keith R. Ritcheson was charged with four counts of first-degree murder for the death of his parents. The defendant claimed that he had come home to find his parents shot dead. But after changing his story, police were able to get a confession from the defendant… Read More »
Semi-Truck Tanker Crash Claims the Lives of 5 Illinois Residents
At least five people died as a result of a semi-truck crash in Effingham County, IL. Areas of the county had to be evacuated as the truck was carrying several thousand pounds of anhydrous ammonia. Residents near the crash had to be evacuated to safety until the tanker stopped leaking ammonia. Several more individuals… Read More »
Drunk Semi-Truck Driver Responsible for Causing Several Injuries to Hockey Team
Lawsuits have been filed against a drunk semi-truck driver who crashed into a school bus carrying a boy’s hockey team, according to a recent article. Police say that the semi-truck driver ran a red light crashing into the school bus. They allege that he was drunk at the time of the incident. He is… Read More »
Defendant Charged with Aggravated Battery of a Police Officer Denied Appeal
An Illinois defendant was charged with aggravated battery of a police officer and resisting a police officer. The defendant alleged that the officer had no reason to arrest him and that his subsequent charge of resisting a police officer was the “fruit of the poisonous tree”. Fruit of the poisonous tree refers to any… Read More »
Defendant Denied Motion to Suppress Statements Made by Police After Armed Robbery
An Illinois defendant was found guilty of armed robbery at a gas station and sentenced to 23 years in prison. He got 8 years for the armed robbery and another 15 for a firearm enhancement. He appealed the decision on the basis that the court should have suppressed evidence related to a confession that… Read More »
15-Year-Old Defendant Charged with First-Degree Murder
On August 4th, 2010, a 15-year-old defendant was charged with first-degree murder after the shooting death of another individual. He was also charged with two counts of armed robbery. The murder counts alleged that he personally discharged a handgun killing another person. The defendant was offered a plea deal in which he would personally… Read More »
Illinois Now Allows Punitive Damages in Wrongful Death Cases
Illinois has made a change to the law that will affect wrongful death lawsuits. Previously, the law barred individuals from seeking punitive damages in wrongful death cases. Now, a plaintiff will be able to recover punitive damages in a wrongful death suit. In some cases, this will increase the size of the verdict. Illinois… Read More »