Chicago Investigative Reporter Arrested on DUI and Battery Charges

An investigative reporter for CBS 2 Chicago was arrested earlier this month in Naperville on multiple criminal charges. He was charged with misdemeanors that include battery, driving under the influence of alcohol, endangering the life of a child, and a hit-and-run. According to police officers, the man was arrested close to midnight after he got into a minor car crash in a Taco Bell parking lot.

The other driver said that he wanted to call police to report the accident. He was taking a picture of the license plate with his phone when the reporter shoved him and then drove off. Using the license plate number, police were able to track down and arrest the reporter. There were two kids younger than 18 years old in his car, which brought on the charge of child endangerment. Not much after 4:00 a.m., the man was released on $3,000 bail.

For the hit-and-run charge alone, even in a minor accident, someone could face 364 days in jail and up to $2,500 in fines. That would be for a class A misdemeanor charge; if there were any injuries, then someone would face felony charges. For a first-time DUI, someone could face these same penalties. But if a DUI charge comes when there is a passenger who is younger than 16, then that driver would face at least $1,000 in fines, six months in jail, and 25 days of community service. These would be mandatory sentences for a first offense.

Regardless of the exact criminal charge you face, what is often the most serious consequence of all is facing a lifetime with a criminal record. When your whole life is at stake, you cannot afford to be without an experienced Chicago criminal lawyer at your side, one who has a proven track record of defending clients in even the most complex of cases. Contact the Law Offices of Michael P. Schmiege today to learn about how you can get the rigorous legal defense you deserve.