Q: Can I be criminally charged in Illinois if an online Facebook buyer says I sold them a different product than advertised
I was selling a product on Facebook Marketplace. I agreed through Facebooks platform to meet this buyer at a local restaurant and sell them my product. The buyer and I meet on this restaurants property in the parking lot. I never get out of my vehicle. The buyer walks up to my car window and argues with me about the process of the transaction. Buyer eventually pays me money for the product. I hand the buyer the product. Buyer continues to argue with me about a second product I was selling. I get frustrated and start pulling away in my vehicle. Buyer was not touching my vehicle as I pulled off. After I put my vehicle in motion, the buyer jumps through my window, grabs my arm with one hand and hangs on to the vehicle with the other hand. Being in fear for my life at this point, I press on the gas harder. The buyer eventually falls out of my vehicle. He lies to the police and says I ran him over but does admit to jumping in my car after I started pulling away. I have video and a witness.
A: Stop losing sleep over this incident. You were assaulted by the Buyer. I believe the District Attorney and police have more important matters to pursue. As far as selling the product, this appears to be a civil event not a criminal event. Again, stop losing sleep.
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