Attorney Cory Easton
At the office of Cory Easton, P.C. - he handles DUI and related traffic and criminal cases in many parts of Illinois including St. Clair, Perry, Monroe, Randolph, Washington, Madison and Clinton Counties.
Mr. Easton's main areas of practice are Criminal Law, DUI Defense and Family Law in Belleville Illinois. He received a bachelor's degree in Accounting in 1992. He received his Law Degree from Southern Illinois University School of Law in 1996. He prosecuted cases for a short period of time while in Law School under a Supreme Court Rule 711 License, then began his career as a Trial Lawyer at the Public Defender's Office in St. Clair County, Illinois. After handling numerous high profile First Degree Murder cases and jury trials, he entered into Private Practice in 1999, establishing Cory Easton, P.C. (Professional Corporation). Cory has been a Divorce and Criminal Trial Lawyer since entering the Practice of Law. He is also the attorney for O'Fallon Township in St. Clair County Illinois.
Attorney Cory Easton is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, St. Clair County Bar Association and the East St. Louis Bar Association. He is also a member of the Illinois Capital Litigation Bar, which includes only a handful of Lawyers in the Down State Illinois area. He is represented numerous defendants that have faced the ultimate penalty -- Death. He is also among a select few attorneys in the United States that have freed an innocent man that the State was seeking to kill.
Mr. Easton, in addition to high profile cases, handles all types of Traffic, Criminal and DUI related cases. A large portion of Mr. Easton's criminal practice is DUI and felony cases. He has handled hundreds of DUI's in Belleville and will fight to keep your license. He has a team of experts that are willing to review and investigate your case, whether it is a felony or misdemeanor.
DUI Lawyer Belleville | St. Clair County DWI Attorney Cory Easton P.C.
The legal limit for intoxication in Illinois is defined as having a blood alcohol content in excess of .08%. The state Vehicle Code establishes that a motorist can be charged with the crime of DUI in Illinois for being under the influence of alcohol or a drug to which they are rendered unsafe to drive. This means that it is possible to be arrested for drunk driving in Illinois even if your blood alcohol level is below the legal limit. The officer simply needs reasonable belief that you are impaired to initiate an arrest. It is also possible to be arrested for DUI without actually driving. The law stipulates that you are considered in 'physical control' by being behind the wheel of a vehicle, even with the motor off.
An arrest for driving under the influence in Illinois can be the lowest point in one's life. There are social, legal and financial consequences that could affect you for a long time. You could even lose your job. Whatever the details of your case and however difficult things may seem, don't assume you are guilty. You still have rights protected by the constitution and the ability to challenge the case against you in court.
Illinois DUI laws are constantly being changed with increasingly punitive penalties. In fact, the DUI Statute Code has been amended at least once every year over the past decade. This makes it very important to seek a qualified and experienced DUI attorney for a proper and effective defense.
St. Clair County DUI Lawyer Cory Easton understands the impact of an arrest for drunk driving, and he is ready to help you. He knows Illinois DUI laws and the DUI court system. Cory Easton will provide you with aggressive and experienced legal representation. Attorney Cory Easton's main objective is to help you avoid a conviction. He will challenge evidence, file motions on your behalf, study any available arrest video, review the arrest report for errors in policy, investigate the arrest scene and analyze the maintenance records of the breath testing equipment. Belleville DUI Lawyer Cory Easton will be thorough in the preparation of your defense.
Free Belleville DUI Case Review
To receive a free review of your case, contact Belleville DUI Lawyer Cory Easton by calling (618)219-8656 or filling out the request form to the left. Cory Easton will listen to your side of the story, ask about your needs and then outline your legal options and his legal fees. There is no obligation so call now.
About Your IL Driver's License
Following an arrest for drunk driving in St. Clair County, the state of Illinois will commence a process to suspend your driver's license. There are many complications best addressed with professional legal guidance. Generally, your license will be suspended on the 46th day after the date of your arrest. If you submitted to a breath test and failed, you could lose your license for 6 months. If you refused to take a breath test, the suspension could be for one year. If you have prior convictions for Illinois DUI within five years, the duration increases.
There are limited opportunities to challenge the statutory summary suspension of your license. This is a difficult process and the burden of proof will be on you. St. Clair County DUI Attorney Cory Easton understands the license revocation process and could help you retain your driving privileges. He will try to have the license suspension stopped through a special hearing or negotiation. Short of dismissal of the license case, Cory Easton will seek to obtain a Monitoring Device Driving Permit (MDDP) that will allow you to continue driving. For more information and immediate help with your license, contact Lawyer Easton quickly.
Penalties for IL DUI
If found guilty of driving under the influence in St. Clair County, Illinois, you will be required to undergo an alcohol evaluation before being sentenced. The recommendations of a state licensed evaluator can range from enrollment in an education program to alcohol rehabilitation.
In addition, you could be jailed for up to one year, be fined up to $2,500, lose your driver's license, need to perform community service and be made to attend Victim Impact Programs.
A conviction for drunk driving in Illinois will result in a criminal record. This could impact your ability to keep or find a job. Canada is more strictly enforcing its longstanding policy of disallowing entry to those with a criminal record, even for misdemeanor DUI. A DUI is a criminal matter, and Belleville DUI Attorney Cory Easton is an experienced criminal defense lawyer. He will fight to keep your record clean. Protect your future by calling Cory Easton.
If you would like a free, no obligation DUI consultation, CALL NOW 618.355.7500 .
Why fight it?
One of the main reasons you should challenge a DUI is because of the serious nature of the penalties. A DUI conviction carries with it the possibility of jail time, steep fines and the loss of driving privileges. With the help of Cory Easton, all aspects of your DUI charge will be scrutinized so that your rights will be protected. You cannot afford a DUI conviction because:
- you can receive jail time or either Alternative Housing or Intermediate Punishment (House Arrest with an ankle bracelet) at your expense;
- your driver's license can be suspended from thirty (30) days to eighteen (18) months;
- your car insurance rates WILL rise or your coverage may be canceled;
- the average out-of-pocket cost for a DUI conviction is between $1,500 and $5000;
- you may be required to have an Interlock Ignition switch installed in your vehicle at your own expense; and,
- you could lose your job due to any of the above.
The Traditional DUI Stop, What to Expect!
To execute a traditional DUI traffic stop (other than those made at a DUI checkpoint), a police officer must have a reasonable suspicion that you have committed some violation of the Motor Vehicle Code, usually for a moving violation or because your vehicle is not up to code.
From the moment the officer initiates the stop, he or she is observing your actions to determine if you are intoxicated. The officer will be observing and scrutinizing odors coming from the vehicle, your speech, your attitude, clothing, the conduct of passengers as well as other physical evidence to make his initial determination of whether or not to proceed further with his DUI investigation. If ordered out of your vehicle, the officer may employ several field sobriety tests to determine if you are intoxicated. These tests include the walk and turn, the one leg stand and various other counting or alphabet tests. If the officer finds that there is probable cause to believe that you are under the influence, you most likely will be arrested and taken for either a blood or breath test to determine your exact blood alcohol level.
In the event your blood alcohol level exceeds 0.08% or if the office simply believes, based on his observations, that you were incapable of safely operating your vehicle, you will charged with a DUI and most likely multiple other criminal and / or vehicular charges. At this point it is imperative that you immediately contact an attorney. Cory Easton is available 24 hours a day and can be reached at 618.355.7500 or by e-mail at coryeastonpc@aol.com. We look forward to resolving your DUI and DWI related charges.