Belleville Home Invasion Defense Lawyer

Home Invasion Defense Attorney in Belleville, IL

If you or a loved one has been charged with home invasion in Belleville or the Metro-East area, you need an aggressive Belleville home invasion defense lawyer on your side right away. Illinois treats home invasion as one of its most severe violent crimes due to its classification as a Class X offense, resulting in lengthy prison sentences, substantial fines, and permanent consequences.

The Law Office of Jessica Koester, LLC defends clients in Belleville, Edwardsville, and throughout the Metro-East area who have been charged with home invasion. Our firm knows the criminal justice system and the court climate in this area, and we are familiar with the prosecutors and judges in St. Clair County.

Jessica Koester has been defending serious felonies, including gun charges and violent offenses, for many years. She understands what is on the line for a client facing home invasion charges, and will provide a personable, aggressive defense on your behalf.

Belleville Home Invasion Defense Laws and Penalties

Illinois had 218,004 property crimes in 2024, with a property crime rate per 100,000 residents of 1,715.2, according to FBI UCR data. Crimes involving the destruction, theft, or damage of property without the use of force against the victim are referred to as property crimes. Larceny-theft with 144,179 occurrences, burglary with 36,919 occurrences, and motor vehicle theft with 36,906 occurrences were the specific types and numbers of property crimes.

According to Illinois law, 720 ILCS 5/19-6 is the code that defines home invasion. The penalties are substantial. A Class X felony attracts 6 to 30 years of imprisonment within Illinois sentencing guidelines, along with fines that reach a maximum of $25,000, and usually excludes probation.

Penalties for residential burglary under 720 ILCS 5/19-3 or general burglary under 720 ILCS 5/19-1 vary based on dwelling type and damage level or criminal intent toward theft or felony actions.

What Is Considered Home Invasion in Illinois

When someone enters another person’s home without permission and is aware that someone is inside, it is considered a home invasion. There are various underlying behaviors that can contribute to home invasion:

• Carrying a dangerous weapon, such as a firearm, into a house and using force or threatening to use violence.
• Staying or going inside after authorization has been revoked, or going inside while occupants are present under false pretenses, such as posing as a government agent or utility worker.
• Entering under certain conditions that overlap with burglary statutes with the intent to commit a felony or theft, even if no actual theft took place.

Hire a Home Invasion Defense Lawyer

When you hire a home invasion defense lawyer, you get immediate legal experience, strategic understanding, and courtroom preparedness when everything is on the line. These home invasion defense cases in Belleville progress rapidly with extreme penalties, including long prison sentences and permanent criminal records.

An effective home invasion defense attorney can investigate the facts, suppress unlawful searches, make important motions, and aggressively challenge the prosecution’s case. When so much is at stake, the representation of a skilled advocate ensures your rights are protected, and the greatest possible result is obtained.

Belleville Home Invasion Defense Lawyer

If you have been accused of a home invasion, The Law Office of Jessica Koester, LLC can help. Contact us today for a consultation.