Glen Ellyn
Criminal Defense
Attorney

Criminal Defense in Glen Ellyn

McMahon Law Offices defends residents and visitors facing criminal charges in Glen Ellyn. The village sits entirely within DuPage County, meaning all felony and misdemeanor cases arising here are prosecuted by the DuPage County State's Attorney and heard at the DuPage County Circuit Court in Wheaton — a courthouse our attorneys have practiced in exclusively for over two decades. Glen Ellyn and Wheaton share a border, making this one of the closest courthouse relationships of any community in DuPage County.

We handle every category of criminal charge filed in DuPage County:

• DUI Defense — First offense, aggravated DUI, felony DUI, breathalyzer refusal, statutory summary suspension hearings, and driver's license reinstatement
• Drug Crimes — Possession, possession with intent to deliver, delivery of a controlled substance, trafficking, and cannabis charges
• Domestic Violence — Domestic battery, aggravated domestic battery, violation of orders of protection, and criminal stalking
• Violent Crimes — Assault, aggravated battery, armed robbery, home invasion, and attempted murder
• Property Crimes — Retail theft, burglary, residential burglary, criminal trespass, and criminal damage to property
• Sex Crimes — Criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual abuse, predatory criminal sexual assault, and sex offender registration matters
• Weapon Crimes — Unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated UUW, FOID card violations, and illegal firearm possession
• Traffic Violations — Reckless driving, driving on a suspended or revoked license, leaving the scene of an accident, and street racing
• White Collar Crimes — Fraud, theft by deception, identity theft, embezzlement, and money laundering

Your Glen Ellyn Defense Team

Every Glen Ellyn criminal case handled by McMahon Law Offices benefits from two perspectives that no other DuPage County firm can offer. One attorney spent years prosecuting cases at the Wheaton courthouse as a DuPage County Assistant State's Attorney. The other decided them from the bench as a Circuit Judge. For Glen Ellyn residents — whose cases are heard at the courthouse just one village over — that depth of local knowledge translates directly into a stronger defense.

Founding Attorney

Michael F. McMahon

Former DuPage County Assistant State's Attorney with 20+ years of criminal defense experience in the 18th Judicial Circuit. Knows how DuPage County prosecutors build cases against Glen Ellyn defendants because he built them himself.

Former Prosecutor DuPage County Avvo 10.0

Of Counsel

Judge Cary B. Pierce (Ret.)

Retired Circuit Judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit, DuPage County. Judge Pierce sat on the bench at the Wheaton courthouse — just minutes from Glen Ellyn — and knows every judge currently serving there personally. His insight into how those judges evaluate motions and weigh evidence shapes every case strategy from the start.

Retired Judge 18th Circuit DuPage County

About Glen Ellyn

Glen Ellyn is a village of approximately 28,000 residents in DuPage County, located roughly 22 miles west of downtown Chicago. It borders Wheaton to the west, Lombard to the east, Carol Stream to the north, and Lisle to the south. Glen Ellyn is a well-established commuter community served by a Metra Union Pacific West line station and has a charming downtown district along Main Street and Crescent Boulevard.

The village is home to College of DuPage, one of the largest community colleges in the country by enrollment, with over 25,000 students. That student population contributes to a specific category of arrests in the area, particularly underage drinking, cannabis possession, and disorderly conduct. Glen Ellyn sits entirely within DuPage County, and all criminal cases arising here are heard at the DuPage County Circuit Court in Wheaton — less than 3 miles from the village border.

Where Arrests Typically Occur in Glen Ellyn

Glen Ellyn generates criminal arrests across several consistent zones. Its proximity to Wheaton and its large college population give its arrest profile some distinctive characteristics compared to other DuPage communities.

Downtown Glen Ellyn — Main Street and Crescent Boulevard

The downtown district along Main Street is Glen Ellyn's primary entertainment corridor. Its concentration of bars and restaurants generates DUI stops, disorderly conduct arrests, and domestic battery calls on weekend nights. The Glen Ellyn Police Department patrols the downtown area actively and conducts DUI enforcement on the routes leading out of the district, including Main Street, Roosevelt Road, and Park Boulevard.

College of DuPage Campus and Surrounding Area

College of DuPage draws a large and diverse student population to Glen Ellyn. The campus and surrounding residential areas generate minor in possession of alcohol, cannabis possession, disorderly conduct, and occasional drug delivery charges. These cases move quickly through the DuPage County system and can carry lasting consequences for financial aid, academic enrollment, and future employment. An arrest near the COD campus should be taken seriously regardless of the charge level.

Roosevelt Road Corridor

Roosevelt Road runs east-west through Glen Ellyn and is one of DuPage County's most consistently enforced commercial corridors for DUI and traffic stops. Late-night enforcement on Roosevelt Road after bar hours generates a steady volume of DUI arrests that are filed at the Wheaton courthouse. Both Glen Ellyn PD and neighboring jurisdictions patrol this stretch.

I-355 — Veterans Memorial Tollway

I-355 runs along Glen Ellyn's eastern border and is patrolled by the Illinois State Police. Traffic stops on I-355 regularly produce DUI arrests, drug discoveries during vehicle searches, and weapon charges. If your arrest occurred on I-355, the arresting agency is ISP rather than Glen Ellyn PD, which affects how the stop was documented and what evidence was collected.

Residential Neighborhoods

Domestic battery and order of protection violations generate a steady volume of residential arrests in Glen Ellyn. These charges carry mandatory no-contact orders that take immediate effect upon arrest, often removing the accused from their home before any court proceeding. Given Glen Ellyn's high concentration of families and professionals, these cases frequently carry implications for housing, custody, and employment that compound the criminal charge itself.

Where Glen Ellyn Criminal Cases Are Heard

All criminal charges arising in Glen Ellyn are filed in the DuPage County Circuit Court — the 18th Judicial Circuit — in Wheaton. At less than 3 miles from the Glen Ellyn border, the Wheaton courthouse is the closest major courthouse to any community in our service area. McMahon Law Offices has practiced there exclusively for over two decades.

DuPage County Circuit Court

• Address: 505 N. County Farm Rd, Wheaton, IL 60187
• Phone: (630) 407-8700
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
• Circuit: 18th Judicial Circuit of Illinois
• Prosecuting Office: DuPage County State's Attorney's Office
• Distance from Glen Ellyn: Less than 3 miles west via Roosevelt Road or Geneva Road

Bond court convenes the morning following arrest. If you or a family member was arrested in Glen Ellyn overnight, the first court appearance is typically the following morning in Wheaton. Having an attorney present at bond court can significantly affect the conditions of release, including the bond amount and any no-contact or travel restrictions the judge imposes.

Law Enforcement in Glen Ellyn

Criminal arrests in Glen Ellyn are made primarily by the Glen Ellyn Police Department. The Illinois State Police patrol I-355 along the village's eastern border and are a common arresting agency for DUI and traffic-related charges on that corridor. The College of DuPage campus has its own campus security, though arrests involving criminal charges are handled by Glen Ellyn PD or DuPage County Sheriff's deputies depending on the nature of the incident.

Glen Ellyn Police Department

• Address: 492 Forest Ave, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
• Non-Emergency: (630) 469-1187
• Jurisdiction: Village of Glen Ellyn

Illinois State Police — District 5

• Address: 1011 Larkin Ave, Elgin, IL 60123
• Phone: (847) 294-4400
• Patrols: I-355 (Veterans Memorial Tollway) along Glen Ellyn's eastern border

DuPage County Sheriff

• Address: 501 N. County Farm Rd, Wheaton, IL 60187
• Phone: (630) 407-2000
• Jurisdiction: Unincorporated DuPage County and county-wide enforcement support

Frequently Asked Questions

My arrest happened in Glen Ellyn but my court date is in Wheaton. Is that right?

Yes. Glen Ellyn sits entirely within DuPage County, and all felony and misdemeanor criminal cases are heard at the DuPage County Circuit Court at 505 N. County Farm Rd in Wheaton. The courthouse is less than 3 miles from Glen Ellyn's western border — one of the shortest distances of any DuPage community to the courthouse. Glen Ellyn has no criminal courthouse of its own.

My son or daughter was arrested near College of DuPage. How serious is this?

It depends on the charge. Minor in possession of alcohol is a Class A misdemeanor under Illinois law and carries up to a year in jail and fines, though first-time offenders often qualify for diversion programs. Cannabis possession charges depend on the amount involved. Any charge involving delivery or distribution of a controlled substance near a school or college campus carries enhanced penalties under Illinois law. Beyond the criminal consequence, a conviction can affect financial aid eligibility, academic standing, and future employment background checks. Contact us for a free case review to understand what your options are.

I was stopped on I-355 near Glen Ellyn. Does that affect my case?

It can. ISP stops on I-355 follow specific documentation procedures that differ from Glen Ellyn PD municipal stops. The legal standards for reasonable suspicion and vehicle searches on a tollway may affect the defense strategy for a DUI or drug charge. Your attorney will review the ISP arrest report, dashcam footage, and any breathalyzer records to evaluate whether the stop and any search were legally sound. A successful suppression motion can result in evidence being excluded and charges being reduced or dismissed.

What happens to my driver's license after a DUI arrest in Glen Ellyn?

An Illinois DUI arrest triggers an automatic statutory summary suspension if you refused the breathalyzer or tested at or above the legal limit. The suspension takes effect 46 days after arrest and is entirely separate from any criminal penalties. You have the right to petition the court to rescind the suspension, but that petition must be filed promptly. Contact us immediately after a DUI arrest to preserve this option.