A McLean County teacher faces three Illinois state felony charges for unlawful possession and delivery of meth, according to an article by The Pantagraph.
The Normal Police Department investigated this case and, ultimately, demonstrated enough probable cause to search the teacher’s domicile. While executing a search warrant, police officers discovered meth and drug paraphernalia.
As a result of this incident, the McLean County teacher faces two counts of unlawful delivery of less than five grams of meth. He also faces one count of unlawful possession of less than five grams of meth.
At this point, the McLean County teacher declined to post bail and remains in police custody. While he awaits further developments in his legal case, it seems proper to review Illinois laws against and penalties for meth possession and delivery.
Meth Possession Laws and Penalties
720 ILCS 646/60 details the Illinois laws against and penalties for possessing meth. Under this section, it is illegal to knowingly possess meth or any substance containing meth.
The punishment for violating Section 60 depends mostly on the amount of meth in question. Unlawful possession of:
- Less than 5 grams of meth — Is a Class 3 felony, punishable by two to five years in prison and up to $25,000 in criminal fines;
- Between 5 and 15 grams of meth — Is a Class 2 felony, punishable by three to seven years in prison and up to $25,000 in criminal fines; or
- Between 15 and 100 grams of meth — Is a Class 1 felony, punishable by four to 15 years in prison and up to $25,000 in criminal fines.
For possessing larger quantities of meth, an offender can face even more serious penalties than those described above.
Meth Delivery Laws and Penalties
720 ILCS 646/55 establishes the Illinois laws against and penalties for delivering meth. In this context, the term delivery essentially refers to any transfer of possession of meth — attempted or completed, with or without money exchanged. It is also illegal to possess meth with the intent to deliver.
The punishment for violating Section 55 depends mostly on the amount of meth in question.
Unlawful delivery or possession with intent to deliver:
- Less than 5 grams of meth — Is a Class 2 felony, punishable as explained previously;
- Between 5 and 15 grams of meth — Is a Class 1 felony, punishable as explained previously; or
- Between 15 and 100 grams of meth — Is a Class X felony, punishable by six to 30 years in prison and up to $100,000 in criminal fines.
For larger amounts of meth, or delivery to minors, an offender can face even more severe penalties than those outlined above.
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.