Topic: Robinson

Michael Allison faces five felony counts and a potential 75-year prison sentence for recording law enforcement officers in Robinson, Illinois. The charges stem from an Illinois eavesdropping law that classifies recording on-duty officials without consent as a Class 1 felony, a penalty equivalent to rape. Crawford County State's Attorney Tom Wiseman is pursuing the case despite similar charges being dropped in other jurisdictions across the United States.

The legal conflict began when Michael Allison attempted to document police interactions regarding unregistered cars on his property. After being denied a court reporter during a local ordinance hearing, Allison informed the judge he would record the proceedings himself for documentation purposes. Robinson Police subsequently confiscated his digital recorder and arrested him on five felony eavesdropping charges related to his various recordings of public officials.

Michael Allison describes the origins of his legal conflict involving the restoration of a 1987 Cadillac and a 1974 Chevrolet pickup on his mother's property in Robinson, Illinois. After strategically dismissing a prior lawsuit against the city of Bridgeport in September 2008, Allison was confronted by Robinson Police Officer William Rutan in November 2008 regarding alleged city ordinance violations. Allison informed the officer of his intent to sue the city for what he characterized as a fraudulent vehicle title and extortion racket.