Buffalo Grove Reckless Homicide Attorney

Skilled Criminal Lawyer Defending Reckless Homicide Charges in Lake County, Illinois

If you have been charged with reckless homicide, it is time to call The Law Offices of Matthew R. Gebhardt, P.C. We will conduct a thorough investigation of your case, going above and beyond to find holes in the state's case. Matthew R. Gebhardt understands that you may have simply made a bad choice or decision and that the accidental death of another should not be compounded by severe penalties being given to you.

Our Buffalo Grove reckless homicide defense lawyer spent five years as a prosecutor. This experience gave him unique insights, allowing him to clearly see both sides of your case. Additionally, Matthew has more than two decades of criminal defense experience and will represent you zealously with a goal of preserving your future.

What Constitutes Reckless Homicide in Lake County

Reckless homicide is more than negligence, but somewhat less than wanton conduct. While the death was certainly involuntary, the state has the burden of proving the reckless act which caused the death was voluntary.

The state must also prove your state of mind in order to convict you of reckless homicide. As an example, if you were drag racing through a school zone just as school let out, the prosecutor may have sufficient evidence to prove a conscious disregard of the risk of death or great bodily harm—because most reasonable people would not drag race through a school zone.

The Elements of Reckless Homicide in Illinois

Reckless homicide, also referred to as vehicular homicide, occurs when a death results from a person driving a motor vehicle in a reckless manner. This means that while you certainly did not intend to kill anyone, your reckless conduct while driving resulted in a death that is prosecuted as a violent crime. You may wonder what the state of Illinois considers to be "reckless."

The term is defined as a conscious disregard of a substantial and unjustifiable risk that could reasonably result in harm to another person. Reckless behavior is taking an unnecessary risk that most reasonable people would realize could cause harm to another human being.

The state will have automatically met its burden of proof in showing your reckless behavior if your blood alcohol content was above the legal limit at the time of the fatal accident.

As with any criminal offense, you should certainly exercise your right to remain silent and have an attorney present prior to answering any questions from law enforcement. As the Miranda rights state, anything you say can and willbe used against you, and police officers are trained to extract information from suspects.

Penalties Associated With a Conviction for Reckless Homicide in Illinois

Reckless homicide is considered a Class 3 felony; if convicted of the crime in the state of Illinois, you could face a potential state prison term of two to five years. The offense of reckless homicide can also be charged as a Class 2 felony when specific aggravating factors are present, such as causing a death in a public thoroughfare where children pass on the way to school. If convicted of a reckless homicide with aggravating circumstances, you could face a state prison term of as many as 28 years depending on the case. It is likely you will also lose your driver's license and pay thousands of dollars in fines and fees if convicted of reckless homicide.

Contact a Buffalo Grove, IL Reckless Homicide Defense Lawyer

When Attorney Matthew R. Gebhardt is on your case, he will explore every possible defense strategy which could result in your charges of reckless homicide being reduced or in a dismissal or acquittal. Our criminal defense lawyer will aggressively defend your charges and will be the constant advocate in your corner. For experienced, knowledgeable representation, contact our Buffalo Grove reckless homicide lawyer or call 847-239-4703. We offer free consultations.