A 26-year-old driver faces criminal charges for distribution of cocaine and cannabis after a recent traffic stop in Decatur, Illinois, according to an article by the Herald & Review. Police officers executed this traffic stop on Thursday, May 30th near the 700 block of East Johns Avenue. The officers stopped the driver due to a missing or malfunctioning light on the rear-end plate.
After asking the driver to exit the vehicle, the police officers executed a thorough search. In the process the officers discovered:
- One large bag of cannabis, weighing approximately 40 grams; and
- Eight individual bags of cocaine, each weighing approximately 0.8 grams.
As a result of this traffic stop and search, the authorities charged the driver with unlawful distribution of cannabis and cocaine. The driver did not post the $20,000 bond and, thus, remains at Macon County Jail for further proceedings.
While this driver waits for the next steps in his legal case, it seems appropriate to review Illinois charges and confinement periods for the unlawful distribution of cannabis and cocaine.
Cannabis Distribution
Any person who engages in the unlawful cannabis distribution of:
- Less than 2.5 grams — Will likely face Class B misdemeanor charges and a maximum jail sentence six months;
- 2.5 to 10 grams — Will likely face Class A misdemeanor charges and a maximum jail sentence of 364 days;
- 10 to 30 grams — Will likely face Class 4 felony charges and a prison sentence between one and three years;
- 30 to 500 grams — Will likely face Class 3 felony charges and a prison sentence between two and five years;
- 500 to 2,000 grams — Will likely face Class 2 felony charges and a prison sentence between three and seven years;
- 2,000 to 5,000 grams — Will likely face Class 1 felony charges and a prison sentence between four and 15 years; or
- More than 5,000 grams — Will likely face Class X felony charges and a prison sentence between six and 30 years.
Cocaine Distribution
Any person who engages in the unlawful cocaine distribution of:
- Less than 1 gram — Will likely face Class 2 felony charges and a prison sentence between three and seven years;
- 1 to 15 grams — Will likely face Class 1 felony charges and a prison sentence between four and 15 years;
- 15 to 100 grams — Will likely face Class X felony charges and a prison sentence between six and 30 years;
- 100 to 400 grams — Will likely face Class X felony charges and a prison sentence between nine and 40 years;
- 400 to 900 grams — Will likely face Class X felony charges and a prison sentence between 12 and 50 years; or
- More than 900 grams — Will likely face Class X felony charges and a prison sentence between 15 and 60 years.
Do You Need Legal Help?
No matter what the criminal offense, all charges are serious. A sound strategy and an aggressive defense are essential for a positive outcome. To protect your rights in such situations, it is highly advisable to retain legal counsel from an experienced criminal defense attorney.
The Prior Law Firm in Bloomington, Illinois, has proven experience in matters of criminal defense. If you need legal help with criminal defense, contact us today for a free consultation. You can reach The Prior Law Firm by phone at (309) 827-4300, email at johnprior@thepriorlawfirm.com, or by completing an online form.
(image courtesy of Dominik Martin)