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Criminal Defense from arraignment to verdict.

Comprehensive felony and misdemeanor defense, trial advocacy, and pre-charge investigation throughout Southern Illinois.

A criminal charge — even a misdemeanor — is a fight for your record, your livelihood, and in many cases your freedom. Cheryl R. Whitley has spent her career standing between the State of Illinois and the people it accuses, building defenses that begin the moment a client calls and continue through every motion, hearing, and verdict.

Every case starts with an independent investigation. We do not accept the police narrative at face value. Body-cam footage, dispatch logs, witness statements, forensic reports, and chain-of-custody records are obtained, reviewed, and pressure-tested for inconsistencies. Where the State cuts corners — illegal searches, suggestive identifications, coerced statements, lab errors — we file the motions necessary to suppress that evidence and, in many cases, end the case before trial.

When trial is the right path, the firm tries cases. Cheryl's reputation in front of St. Clair County judges and juries is built on preparation: cross-examinations that expose contradiction, closing arguments grounded in the record, and a willingness to take cases to verdict that other firms would plead out. Whether the charge is a Class A misdemeanor or a Class X felony, the standard of preparation does not change.

Charges handled include theft, retail theft, aggravated battery, domestic battery, weapons offenses (UUW, AUUW, armed habitual criminal), burglary, residential burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, all drug classifications, sex offenses, and homicide. The firm represents adults in St. Clair, Madison, Monroe, Randolph, Washington, and Clinton counties, and accepts referrals across the Southern District of Illinois.

Common Questions

Frequently asked.

Q01What should I do immediately after being arrested?
Invoke your right to remain silent and your right to counsel — out loud, on the record — and stop talking. Do not consent to searches, do not attempt to explain, and do not answer questions about where you were or what you were doing. Call the firm as soon as you have access to a phone. The first 24 hours often determine the trajectory of the entire case.
Q02Can the firm get my case dismissed before trial?
Often, yes. Many cases are resolved through motions to suppress, motions in limine, speedy-trial demands, or pre-indictment negotiation. When the evidence was obtained illegally or the State cannot meet its burden, dismissal is the appropriate result and we pursue it aggressively.
Q03What is the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony in Illinois?
Misdemeanors (Class A, B, C) carry up to one year in county jail. Felonies (Class 4 through Class X, plus Murder) carry one year or more in the Illinois Department of Corrections and create permanent record consequences. Even a Class A misdemeanor conviction can affect employment, housing, and immigration status — so the stakes are real at every level.
Q04How much does criminal defense cost?
Fees depend on the charge, the court, and the anticipated complexity. The firm offers flat fees for most matters so you know the cost up front, with payment plans available in many cases. The initial consultation is confidential and free of charge.
Q05Will I have to testify at my own trial?
No. You have an absolute Fifth Amendment right not to testify, and the jury is instructed that no inference can be drawn from your silence. Whether you take the stand is a strategic decision made with your attorney based on the evidence at trial — never a default expectation.
Speak With Cheryl

Charges filed? Don't wait.

The hours after an arrest are the most consequential. Call the firm directly for a confidential consultation.

(618) 520-3307Next: Felony Defense →
Related Results

Verdicts & outcomes.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes — but they reflect a record of fighting cases all the way through, on facts the State expected to win.

Criminal Defense
Domestic dispute charges
All charges dropped

Aggressive pretrial advocacy and constant client communication led to a full dismissal before trial.

— Larry S.
Criminal Defense
Multiple felony charges
Not guilty — 0 felonies

Client faced multiple stacked charges. Trial strategy resulted in a complete not guilty verdict with zero felony convictions.

— Tony W.
Criminal Defense
Criminal trial
Not guilty verdict

Thorough preparation and courtroom execution earned a not guilty verdict at trial.

— Mark Brown
Disclaimer: Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.