McMahon Law Offices
Charged with assault, battery, domestic violence, or homicide in DuPage County? A former prosecutor and retired judge know exactly how the state builds violent crime cases and where they fall apart. Call for a free case review.
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"Violent crime charges move fast and prosecutors pursue them hard. The state's version of events gets locked in early. The earlier we get involved, the more we can do to challenge it."
— Mike McMahon, Former DuPage County ProsecutorViolent Crime Defense Overview
A violent crime charge in DuPage County carries some of the most severe consequences in the criminal justice system — mandatory prison time, lifetime firearm restrictions, sex offender registration in some cases, and a permanent record that affects every job application, housing inquiry, and professional license you ever pursue.
Many clients we defend are not dangerous people. They are individuals caught in a heated domestic dispute that escalated beyond what either party intended, people who acted in self-defense and were charged anyway, or people falsely accused by someone with a motive to lie. Serious charges do not always mean a guilty person.
Mike McMahon prosecuted violent crimes for the state. He knows how prosecutors build assault, battery, and homicide cases — what witness testimony they rely on, how they use medical evidence, and where their cases are most vulnerable. Judge Pierce presided over violent crime trials for years and knows what arguments create reasonable doubt in front of a DuPage County jury.
We fight to get violent crime charges dismissed, reduced, or beaten at trial. We challenge self-defense claims, eyewitness reliability, medical evidence interpretation, and constitutional violations in every case.
Illinois Violent Crimes
| Charge | Classification | |
|---|---|---|
Aggravated Battery Causing great bodily harm, using a deadly weapon, or battering a protected class of victim. Elevated from simple battery based on circumstances. 720 ILCS 5/12-3.05 |
Class 3 Felony to Class X Felony | |
Domestic Battery Physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature, or causing bodily harm to a family or household member. Mandatory no-contact orders and firearm surrender. 720 ILCS 5/12-3.2 |
Class A Misdemeanor to Class 2 Felony | |
Aggravated Assault Assault committed with a deadly weapon, in a public place, or against a protected class of person. Felony enhancement over simple assault. 720 ILCS 5/12-2 |
Class A Misdemeanor to Class 3 Felony | |
First Degree Murder Intentionally killing another person or causing death during the commission of a forcible felony. The most serious charge in Illinois criminal law. 720 ILCS 5/9-1 |
Class M Felony (20–60 Years) | |
Second Degree Murder Intentional killing with mitigating circumstances, such as unreasonable belief in self-defense. A serious felony but distinct from first degree murder. 720 ILCS 5/9-2 |
Class 1 Felony (4–20 Years) | |
Robbery Taking property from another person by force or threat of force. Distinguished from theft by the use of violence or intimidation against the victim. 720 ILCS 5/18-1 |
Class 2 Felony | |
Armed Robbery Robbery committed while armed with a dangerous weapon or firearm. Non-probationable with mandatory minimum prison time. 720 ILCS 5/18-2 |
Class X Felony (6–30 Years) | |
Kidnapping Secretly confining, abducting, or forcibly carrying away another person against their will. Aggravated when a weapon is used or the victim is a minor. 720 ILCS 5/10-1 |
Class 2 to Class X Felony | |
Battery Knowingly causing bodily harm or making physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature with another person. 720 ILCS 5/12-3 |
Class A Misdemeanor | |
Stalking / Aggravated Stalking Engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that causes fear. Aggravated when combined with a threat or violation of a court order. 720 ILCS 5/12-7.3 |
Class 4 Felony to Class 3 Felony | |
Involuntary Manslaughter Unintentionally causing another person's death through reckless conduct. Distinct from murder in that intent to kill is not required. 720 ILCS 5/9-3 |
Class 3 Felony | |
Criminal Sexual Assault Sexual penetration by force or threat of force, or with a victim who cannot consent. Carries mandatory prison and sex offender registration requirements. 720 ILCS 5/11-1.20 |
Class 1 Felony to Class X Felony | |
Hate Crime Committing a criminal offense motivated by the victim's race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristic. Sentence enhancer on underlying charge. 720 ILCS 5/12-7.1 |
Class 4 Felony to Class 2 Felony | |
Intimidation Communicating a threat to cause harm, confinement, or other injury to compel another person to act or refrain from acting in a certain way. 720 ILCS 5/12-6 |
Class 3 Felony |
Violent Crime Case Results
Every result below is a real violent crime case handled in DuPage County.
Why McMahon Law Offices
Former prosecutors who built violent crime cases now use that knowledge to tear them apart.
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5-Star ReviewsMike McMahon built assault, battery, and homicide cases for the state. He knows how prosecutors rely on witness testimony, what medical evidence they need, and where their cases are weakest.
Illinois law recognizes the right to defend yourself, your home, and others. We investigate every case for legitimate self-defense claims, defense of others, and defense of dwelling — and we know how to make those arguments stick.
Eyewitness identifications are unreliable. Alleged victims have motives to exaggerate or lie. We expose credibility problems, inconsistent statements, and witnesses who change their stories between the incident and trial.
Judge Pierce spent years on the bench deciding violent crime cases. He knows what evidence gets excluded, what arguments resonate with every judge in Wheaton, and what creates reasonable doubt in front of a DuPage County jury.
Emergency orders of protection are issued without you present. They can cost you your home, your children, and your firearms. We challenge orders of protection that are based on exaggerated or false allegations.
A violent crime conviction can end your career, cost you your firearm rights, and follow you permanently on every background check. We pursue outcomes that protect your record, your rights, and your ability to move forward.
How To Get Started
A simple, straightforward process from your first call to your first court appearance.
Call us or fill out our contact form right away. Surveillance footage gets overwritten, witnesses are interviewed by police, and the state's version of events gets locked in fast. Early action is everything in violent crime cases.
Tell us exactly what happened, who was present, what was said to police, and what you were charged with. Violent crime cases turn on details — self-defense, provocation, identification, and prior history all matter from the start.
We obtain surveillance footage, secure 911 recordings, interview witnesses, review medical evidence, challenge identification procedures, and file motions to suppress illegally obtained statements and evidence.
Dismissal, reduced charges, acquittal at trial. We pursue the strongest outcome your case allows — protecting your freedom, your record, and your rights every step of the way.
Your Violent Crime Defense Team
A former prosecutor who built violent crime cases and a retired judge who decided them.
Areas We Serve
We defend violent crime charges throughout DuPage County and neighboring Illinois counties.
2150 McDonald Dr Suite 1608
Oak Brook, IL 60523
Available for in-person case reviews upon request. We defend violent crime cases in all of DuPage County and neighboring counties throughout Illinois.
Do not make any statements to police beyond your identifying information. Do not contact the alleged victim, even if you believe the situation is a misunderstanding — this can violate the automatic no-contact order issued at arrest and result in additional charges. Call an attorney immediately. Domestic battery cases move fast and prosecutors pursue them hard even when the alleged victim does not want to press charges. Early intervention gives us the most options to protect you.
Yes. Illinois law recognizes self-defense, defense of others, and defense of dwelling as complete defenses to violent crime charges. To succeed, the force used must have been reasonably necessary and you must have reasonably believed you were in danger. We investigate every case for self-defense claims — gathering witness statements, surveillance footage, prior history between the parties, and physical evidence that supports your version of events. Self-defense is one of the most powerful defenses available in Illinois courts when the facts support it.
Assault is threatening conduct that places another person in reasonable apprehension of receiving a battery — no physical contact is required. Battery is knowingly causing bodily harm or making physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature. Simple assault is a Class C misdemeanor. Simple battery is a Class A misdemeanor. Both can be elevated to felony aggravated assault or aggravated battery based on the weapon used, the severity of injury, or the identity of the victim. The distinction matters because it determines the charges, penalties, and defense strategies available.
Not necessarily. In Illinois, the decision to prosecute belongs to the state's attorney — not the alleged victim. Prosecutors regularly pursue domestic battery and assault cases even when the complaining witness does not want to cooperate. That said, a victim's recantation or unwillingness to testify does create significant problems for the prosecution. We work with the full picture — including the alleged victim's position, available evidence, and the prosecutor's case file — to identify the best path to dismissal or reduction.
Aggravated battery penalties depend on the circumstances. In most cases it is a Class 3 felony carrying 2 to 5 years in prison. Battery causing great bodily harm or permanent disability is a Class 2 felony (3 to 7 years). Battery with a firearm is a Class X felony (6 to 45 years). Battery against a police officer, teacher, or other protected person carries enhanced penalties regardless of injury level. All aggravated battery convictions are non-probationable in certain circumstances, meaning prison time is mandatory.
Yes. Any felony conviction in Illinois results in a lifetime ban on firearm possession. Even a misdemeanor domestic battery conviction triggers a federal lifetime firearms disability under the Lautenberg Amendment. If you hold a FOID card or concealed carry license, a violent crime arrest alone can result in revocation pending the outcome of your case. Protecting your firearm rights is a critical part of our defense strategy, and we pursue outcomes specifically designed to avoid convictions that trigger these permanent disabilities.
At your bond hearing, a judge sets the conditions for your release, including the bond amount and any no-contact orders. In domestic battery cases, a mandatory no-contact order is almost always imposed — meaning you cannot return to your shared home or contact the alleged victim until it is lifted by the court. We appear at your bond hearing to argue for reasonable bond terms, challenge excessive conditions, and begin working toward modifying the no-contact order when appropriate for your situation.
Misdemeanor domestic battery and assault cases typically resolve within 3 to 8 months. Felony cases — aggravated battery, robbery, and homicide — can take 12 to 36 months depending on the evidence, whether expert witnesses are needed, and whether the case goes to trial. More serious charges require more thorough preparation, and rushing a violent crime defense is rarely in your interest. We give you a realistic timeline at your free consultation based on the specific charges and facts of your case.
Resources
Guides written to help you understand your charges, rights, and options after a violent crime arrest.
Get Started
Submit a contact form or call us to schedule your free violent crime case review. Evidence disappears fast and the state's version of events gets locked in early. The sooner we act, the stronger your defense.
Your information is confidential and protected by attorney-client privilege. We will never share your information.
