Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Defendant Charged with Home Invasion, Weapons Offenses Has Appeal Dismissed
In People v. Wiley, the defendant was charged with four counts of home invasion. According to the charges, the defendant entered the victim’s dwelling while armed with a firearm. The state made four allegations of what happened while the defendant was in the victim’s home. They claimed: The defendant threatened the use of imminent… Read More »
Defendant Charged with Home Invasion Denied Pretrial Release Under SAFE-T Act
There are a lot of cases before the appellate court concerning Illinois’ recently passed SAFE-T Act. The Act did away with cash bail and gave judges discretion on who can and cannot be released prior to their trial. Today, hearings are held on whether or not the defendant can be released while they are… Read More »
Tragic Accident on I-57 Near Tuscola
Tragic Truck Accident on I-57 Near Tuscola A recent tragic accident on I-57 near Tuscola, Illinois, has left the community mourning the loss of four lives. This devastating crash involved an SUV and a semi-truck, underscoring the severe consequences of negligent driving and the critical need for legal intervention to support affected families. The… Read More »
Defendant Charged with Criminal Sexual Assault Attempts to Withdraw Guilty Plea
In the case of People v. Smith, the defendant was charged with two counts of criminal sexual assault as well as one count of unlawful restraint following an incident with an unnamed victim. The defendant initially told the court that he intended to rely on a defense of consent. The state rebutted this defense… Read More »
Nursing Home Sued After Man Is Killed by Fellow Resident
Salem Village nursing home is being sued by the family of a former resident who was beaten to death by another resident in the same facility. The lawsuit was filed a few days after the nursing home announced that it was shutting its doors and closing down for good. According to the lawsuit, the… Read More »
Plaintiff Secures $5.5M in Wrongful Death Suit Against Nursing Home
The family of an 80-year-old woman filed a personal injury wrongful death lawsuit against an Illinois nursing home after their loved one suffocated during a power outage. According to the lawsuit, the victim entered the defendant’s facility in June 2016 to receive specialized care for her medical conditions. She had a life expectancy of… Read More »
City of Champaign Sued After Death of Tow Truck Driver
A 20-year-old tow truck driver was killed in March 2022 after being struck by another driver while cleaning up debris from a different accident. The other driver was a 16-year-old who ended up being convicted of failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. The 16-year-old paid a fine and had his license revoked… Read More »
Appellate Court Rules Plaintiff Not Bound by Arbitration Agreement in Nursing Home Wrongful Death
An Illinois appellate court recently overturned a decision handed down by a lower court that compelled an Illinois plaintiff into arbitration with a nursing home. According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff’s mother was admitted to the defendant’s nursing facility in September 2019. As her mother’s power of attorney, the plaintiff signed documents that included… Read More »
Defendant, Found Guilty on Two Counts of Predatory Sexual Assault, Loses Appeal
In the case of People v. Hinman, an Illinois jury convicted the defendant on two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and one count of criminal sexual assault. The defendant was sentenced to 55 years in prison and 3 years to life of mandatory supervised release. The defendant appealed his conviction…. Read More »
Defendant, Found Not-Guilty by Reason of Insanity, Appeals Denial of Transfer to a Less-Secure Psychiatric Facility
In People v. Haynes, the defendant was charged with attempted first-degree murder on April 29, 2002. In July of that year, the trial court ordered that the defendant should be evaluated to determine his fitness to stand trial. An independent psychiatrist found that the defendant was unfit to stand trial. The defendant was ordered… Read More »