Chicago Arson Attorney

If you or someone you know is under investigation or has been arrested for arson, it is important that you speak with a Chicago criminal defense lawyer immediately. Arson is a very serious charge and in Illinois it can carry very severe penalties if convicted. By consulting an attorney at the early stages of the case, you can get a clear understanding of what your rights are and will know that you have the protection of a qualified legal professional who will help you during police questioning and throughout the investigation and prosecution.

Arson is defined under 720 Illinois Complied Statutes Section 20. Under this statue, Arson is defined as destroying someone else's property with a value of $150 or more by setting fire to it without the permission from the owner. Furthermore, even if you own part of the property, it is still considered arson if someone else shares the ownership and you do not have that person's permission to destroy it by intentionally setting fire to it. Setting fire to your own property or vehicle is also illegal, when the intent is to commit insurance fraud.

A person commits Residential Arson when they damage a residential building through an act of Arson. It is considered Aggravated Arson when a person sets fire to the building of another person without their permission when the person setting the fire knows that there are people inside or by setting the fire the person causes bodily harm or disability to someone else. Furthermore, in responding to the fire, if firefighter or policeman gets hurt because of the fire it becomes Aggravated Arson.

Arson Defense in Chicago

A Chicago arson lawyer can offer you a free consultation if you are facing any type of arson charge or investigation. There are various serious penalties you may face, and our staff will work diligently to defend your rights and freedom at every step of the criminal process.

Penalties for Arson Charges

To avoid the harsh penalties following an arson conviction, you will need an aggressive and experienced defense lawyer on your side. Make no mistake that the skill of your lawyer will make a big difference in the not only your outcome at trial but possible sentence that you may face.

Penalties for arson in Illinois are the following:

• Arson causing great bodily injury: 6 to 30 years in state prison
• Arson of an inhabited dwelling: 6 to 30 years in state prison
• Arson of an uninhabited structure: 3 to 7 years in state prison
• Setting fire to another person's property: 4 to 10 years in prison

Contact a Chicago arson attorney from the Law Offices of Michael P. Schmiege today, if you have been charged with or investigated for arson in Chicago, Evanston, Skokie, Maywood or Rolling Meadows area.