On May 21, an Illinois deputy was taken into custody on a warrant for unlawful possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver. The deputy, who is employed with Peoria County Patrol, had reportedly been on administrative leave beginning on February 22.
The deputy was hired in January 2017. Peoria Police authorities filed a report in February 2019 after it had been suspected that the deputy was involved in criminal activity while he was off duty. He was put on administrative leave while an internal investigation was conducted. However, on May 21, he was taken into custody following an investigation in association with the Illinois State Police. His bond was set at $5,000. He was released later the same day after posting 10% of the bond.
A Peoria County Sheriff stated that the deputy may be taken off paid leave depending on the results of the internal investigation. The deputy was scheduled to return to court on June 6.
Being accused of a drug crime could have major implications for a person. In addition to hefty fines, a possible jail sentence and the requirement to complete community service, a defendant could potentially lose his or her job and be banned from certain types of employment.
In these cases, a criminal law attorney could potentially review the evidence for weak points. For example, an attorney may attempt to reduce charges or even seek to have the charges dismissed if the case against the person is not strong enough. In other situations, the attorney may attempt to arrange a drug evaluation that could minimize the consequences for the accused.