Sex Convictions and Registration

Posted: March 17th, 2012 | Author: Donahue, Sowa, Magana | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Jack Donahue | No Comments »

Too many lawyers, either not trained to try cases or lacking the motivation to do so, tend to accept plea agreements that not only put their clients in jail, but also assure them of life of conflict and stigma—-because of lifetime registration requirements. These are issues that can be avoided by going to trial, or, at least, by the prosecution knowing that you are willing to go to trial. Lifetime sex registration is a life sentence. Fight for your client’s interests and avoid it at all costs.

Bond Hearings

Posted: March 3rd, 2012 | Author: Donahue, Sowa, Magana | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Jack Donahue | No Comments »

For young and inexperienced criminal defense lawyers, a bond modification hearing can be an important learning experience. The bond hearing should not be treated in a perfunctory manner. After all, it can mean the difference between freedom and complete detention. Lawyers handling these hearings must understand that there may be only one opportunity to reduce a bond, and it must be done right. One fundamental error is to conduct a hearing, not knowing what the prosecution’s evidence is going to be. Even though you may not be privy to formal discovery, most experienced prosecutors will give you a preview of their bond evidence—if you ask. It is grievous error if you are taken by surprise. Remember, know what’s coming so you can attempt to minimize the damage.

Video of Young Child Admitted into Evidence at Sexual AssaultTrial

Posted: October 17th, 2011 | Author: Donahue, Sowa, Magana | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Jack Donahue | No Comments »

In an Illinois Appellate Court case that appears to be in direct conflict with the United States Supreme Court decision in Crawford v. Washington, the court inexplicably allowed the video of a 5-year old girl as substantive evidence in a criminal prosecution of sexual assault. Notwithstanding objections to blatant hearsay, the court reasoned that because the child testified at trial and was subject to cross-examination, the defendant was not deprived of his right of confrontation under the Sixth Amendment. The court minimized the fact that the video addressed issues that were not presented in child’s original testimony. This case is People v. Lara out of the Fourth District. The decision may still be modified and is subject to review.

New Case Law: Aggravated Dui

Posted: October 17th, 2011 | Author: Donahue, Sowa, Magana | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Jack Donahue | No Comments »

The Illinois Appellate Court has obliterated the concept that a person charged with DUI must be proven to have caused great bodily harm or death when the violation is the “proximate cause” of the injury or death. Here, a state trooper’s car with activated emergency lights was struck by a third person, and the defendant’s vehicle then struck the trooper’s squad. Instead of focusing on whether the defendant caused the collision and death, the court lectured on the dangers of drivers who use alcohol and who may not have adequately anticipated the accident in order to avoid it. This case, People v. Cook, could be used as precedent, and is a dangerous extension of the concept of “proximate cause.”

child pornography

Posted: September 28th, 2011 | Author: Donahue, Sowa, Magana | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Jack Donahue | No Comments »

There is a proliferation of law enforcement activity in computer child porn cases. Some of the arrests in this area are problematic. For example, most of these cases involve the execution of search warrants and the validity of these warrants may be in issue. If the warrants are invalid, then the search for the computer or the search of the computer’s hard drive would be invalid. Second, there may be issues involving the computer owner’s actual knowledge of depictions on the hard drive. Third, there may be instances where the computer owner may be the victim of hacking. The foregoing are just several viable defenses to this very serious offense. Like all cases, ascertaining effective defenses requires a lawyer who is experienced in the field and who is willing to expend the time and energy necessary. I am available to engage in an initial no fee conference to explore these issues with charged individuals or attorneys who want my imput.

Competente Representación Legal en Los Casos Penales

Posted: August 11th, 2011 | Author: Donahue, Sowa, Magana | Filed under: Uncategorized | No Comments »

Los acusados de crímenes, delitos especialmente graves, deben ser conscientes de que el entorno económico actual ha afectado negativamente a la profesión de abogados — igual que la mayoría de otras industrias. Como consecuencia, los abogados que no estan calificados y sin experiencia, están tomando casos que no están ellos calificados para tomar — y sin la supervisión de los abogados más competentes y con experiencia. Por lo tanto, los acusados y los posibles acusados deben investigar independientemente las credenciales de los abogados que podrían representarlos. No se limite a escuchar la propaganda de un abogado. Hable con las personas que conocen al abogado. Examine los registros. Pregúntale acerca de casos específicos que ha manejado el abogado. Vea lo que piensan sus compañeros. No se apresure a contratar a un abogado en una causa penal sin una verificación de antecedentes. El no hacerlo podría cambiar la vida.

DUIs: Bloqueos de carreteras y las pruebas de aliento

Posted: August 11th, 2011 | Author: Donahue, Sowa, Magana | Filed under: Uncategorized | No Comments »

Recuerde que usted no tiene que cometer una violación de tránsito para ser detenido por un DUI. Bloqueos de carreteras o de los llamados “chequeos de seguridad” son frecuentes este tiempo del año. Sin embargo, bloqueos de carreteras requieren ciertas condiciones previas para ser legal. Por ejemplo, debe haber la publicación de anunciar el puesto de control. Que debe llevarse a cabo bajo la supervisión de oficiales superiores y los coches detenidos deben basarse sobre una base que no es discriminatoria. Además, recuerde que los conductores, deben ser amables y respetuosos, pero entender que las pruebas de sobriedad y las pruebas de aliento de licor se han diseñado para recoger pruebas en su contra. Usted no está obligado a someterse a cualquier prueba o responder a cualquier pregunta acerca de dónde ha estado o la cantidad de alcohol que has tenido de beber.

Competant Legal Representation in Criminal Cases

Posted: July 13th, 2011 | Author: Donahue, Sowa, Magana | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Jack Donahue | No Comments »

Those charged with crimes, especially serious crimes, should be aware that the current economic environment has adversely affected the legal profession—just like most other industries. As a result, unqualified and inexperienced lawyers are taking on cases that are over their heads—and without the supervision of more competant and experienced counsel. Therefore, defendants and potential defendants should independently investigate the credentials of the attorneys who may represent them. Don’t just listen to an attorney’s hype. Talk to people who know him or her. Examine their records. Ask them about specific cases they have handled. See what their peers think. For example, check their Martindale-Hubbel ranking. Check on their membership in professional associations. See if they have been recipients of special awards and honors. Don’t rush to retain an attorney in a criminal case without a proper background check. The failure to do so could be life-changing.

DUIs: roadblocks and testing

Posted: July 1st, 2011 | Author: Donahue, Sowa, Magana | Filed under: Uncategorized | No Comments »

Remember, you don’t need to commit a traffic violation to be stopped for a dui. Roadblocks or so-called “safty checks” are prevalant this time of the year. However, roadblocks require certain preconditions in order to be legal. For example, there must be publication announcing the roadblock. It must be conducted under the supervision of superior officers, and the cars pulled over must be based on a non-discriminatory basis. Also, remember drivers, be polite and respectful, but understand that field sobriety testing and breath tests are designed to gather evidence AGAINST you. You are not obligated to submit to any tests or answer any questions about where you’ve been or how much you’ve had to drink.

Arrests based on Invalid Warrants

Posted: April 1st, 2011 | Author: Donahue, Sowa, Magana | Filed under: Uncategorized | No Comments »

A common problem in the criminal justice system is the failure to properly quash or recall warrants in a timely fashion. As so often happens, a person posts bond on a warrant and the warrant is not be “cleared” in the computer system used by law enforcement. Then, days, weeks, or even months later, an unsuspecting defendant is arrested due to the negligence of clerical error. In many cases, this may lead to new charges, i.e. possession of drugs, weapons, etc. The law is quite clear that this warrant is void ab initio and any evidence obtained is not admissible. However, what happens when the person resists the arrest or even fights with the arresting officer? Another rule of law is that a person may not resist even an unlawful arrest. There is an argument to be made that the “actions” of the defendant should be suppressed in the same manner as items seized after the unlawful arrest. There is no law on point in Illinois for this situation. That may soon change, as a Judge in Kane County today granted our motion to suppress evidence based on these facts. We’ll see if the State decides to appeal the ruling. GS