If you have been charged with murder, whether it’s first degree murder, second degree murder, manslaughter or reckless homicide, then you will need an experienced criminal defense attorney that aggressively defends your freedom. Murder is one of the most serious crimes that you can be charged with in Illinois and the consequences of a conviction can lead to a lengthy prison term. Depending on your current age, this can mean a life sentence for some people.

Derrick B. Reese, J.D.; LL.M. has 25 years of experience defending clients that have been charged with murder. Since the outcome of a murder conviction has such an impactful prison sentence, clients facing these charges receive the highest priority and the most attention from our firm. We go to great lengths to prove that there is reasonable doubt that our clients are not guilty of the crime they are charged with. Attorney Derrick Reese has received not guilty verdicts for clients facing murder charges in jury trials.

Derrick B. Reese, J.D.; LL.M. defended a client who was charged as an accomplice to a shooting. Authorities accused him of bringing a gun to a fistfight. The state had one key witness that we knew was trying to save himself by stating that he saw my client with the gun. During cross-examination Attorney Derrick Reese emaciated him which resulted in a not guilty verdict decided by a jury. This allowed the client to walk free.

First degree murder comes into play when someone is killed and the murder acted with intent to kill, without justification or the murder occurred during the act of a felony being committed. A conviction of first degree murder in Illinois comes with a prison sentence of 20-60 years. Additional factors come into play such as the victim being a police officer or a firearm being used to commit the murder. This can lead to no time off for good behavior or the convicted must serve their entire sentence.

If authorities believe that a murder occurred because the murderer was acting under a sudden and intense passion and was provoked, then it is considered second degree murder. This does not include a murder that was premeditated. It can also apply to someone who murders another person in self-defense when the amount of force used is not justified. It can happen where people defend themselves and accidentally kill the assailant which results in them facing second-degree murder charges. The penalty for a second degree murder conviction in Illinois is 4-15 years in prison.

Involuntary manslaughter occurs when someone is accidentally killed due to someone else’s reckless actions. If this death is committed by someone driving a vehicle it can be charged as reckless homicide. If aggravated factors occurred such as the incident taking place in a school zone or it results in the death of a police officer the penalty can be higher if convicted. A conviction of manslaughter or reckless homicide comes with a penalty of 2-5 years in prison.

If you or a loved one has been wrongfully convicted of murder charges in Illinois, then Attorney Derrick B. Reese is who you want on your side. Graduating at the top 5% of his class in law school and receiving his Masters of Law Degree, he has extensive experience in appellate court fighting hard for clients who have been unjustly convicted of crimes they did not commit. The Illinois justice system can feel unfair. At The Reese Law Center, LLC we do everything we can to make sure that our clients receive a fair trial and quality legal representation. Although no attorney can ever guarantee a specific outcome to a case, we go the extra mile to overturn convictions and keep our clients out of jail.

Derrick B. Reese, J.D.; LL.M. is a top-rated murder defense attorney that serves Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Attorney Reese graduated in the top 5% of his class during law school. This led to him being the recipient of one of four scholarships provided by the American Bar Association to obtain a Masters of Law Degree. Attorney Reese is articulate, pays attention to detail, and picks apart the prosecution’s case when defending his clients that are facing murder charges. He is a skillful trial attorney that feels comfortable and confident in front of a jury or during a bench trial. If you are facing murder charges of any kind call Derrick B. Reese immediately at 708-914-4570

Cook County – Dupage County – Kane County – Will County