Felonies Lawyer in Indianapolis Reducing Stigmas and Missed Opportunities Related to Felony Charges

A felony is any crime that carries a penalty of more than one year in prison, a life sentence in prison, or the death penalty.

Many felony charges include enhancements, such as habitual offender designations and crimes committed within a certain distance of a housing complex or school, that add many years to a felony conviction.

Felony convictions also close doors of opportunity and limit your life options in areas such as:

• Adopting children
• Employment opportunities
• Housing eligibility
• Firearm ownership
• Running for public office

Felonies include charges such as drug dealing and possession, firearm and gun offenses, and violent crimes that cause another person serious bodily injury. If you are charged with a felony and face a lengthy prison sentence, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney.

Felonies are serious crimes that require strategy, criminal defense experience, and dedicated professional attention. An Indianapolis felony lawyer with the Law Office of Corey L. Scott LLC can examine your case and offer legal guidance. Call us anytime: (317) 623-4546.

What are Felony Charges?

There are six classes of felony charges, with penalties such as six months in prison for a minor felony charge, to lengthy prison sentences without the possibility of parole for major felonies. Felonies can be violent and non-violent crimes.

Felony charges, depending on the crime and whether injuries or death were involved, carry the following penalties:

• Level 1 felony: Carries a penalty of 20 to 50 years in prison.
• Level 2 felony: Carries a penalty of 10 to 30 years in prison.
• Level 3 felony: Carries a penalty of three to 20 years in prison.
• Level 4 felony: Carries a penalty of two to 12 years in prison.
• Level 5 felony: Carries a penalty of one to five years in prison.
• Level 6 felony: Carries a penalty of six months to two years in prison.

In Indiana, additional penalties can be tacked on to your felony charges for certain repeat felony offenses or felonies involving guns or gangs. Using the habitual offender law as an example, you can get an additional two to 20 years in prison for recurring behavior. This is also true of sex offenses and criminal offenses involving firearms.

In a felony case, the court will look at your criminal history, whether you targeted a protected person, violated a court order, age, and other factors. From first-time offenders to repeat offenders, a criminal defense attorney can positively influence your case and possible sentence.

What are the Consequences of a Felony Offense in Indiana?

A felony charge normally follows a person to his or her grave.  However, depending on the class of the offense, some felonies can be reduced to a misdemeanor conviction, especially if they are considered minor offenses, not major felonies.

The state of Indiana divides felonies into different classes, with a level 1 felony being the most serious and a level six the least serious felony conviction.

• Major felony charges, such as level one felonies, include murder, drug dealing resulting in death, home invasion resulting in serious bodily injuries, and aggravated rape with deadly force or weapon.
• Level two felonies include voluntary manslaughter, child sex trafficking, and kidnapping.
• Level three felonies include aggravated battery and bodily injuries to the victim, fleeing police in a vehicle and causing harm to another person or people, and child molestation.
• Level four felonies include arson and illegal use of firearms or possession of illegal firearms by a former felon with a criminal history.
• Level five and six felonies include involuntary manslaughter, robbery, recklessness with a weapon, stalking, vehicle theft, and strangulation.

Presenting a solid case from the get-go could get the prosecutor to agree to lesser charges or penalties, or the judge could decide to reduce the sentence to a misdemeanor if the circumstances are right. Get legal representation and speak with our experienced felony defense lawyers to see what your options are: (317) 623-4546.

Without Legal Representation, What Happens in a Felony Case?

When you are convicted of a criminal offense, sentencing is the process in which the court decides how you will be punished based on the circumstances of your crime, repeat criminal offenses, and other factors.

The unpredictable nature of the criminal justice system is one primary reason for obtaining legal counsel in felony cases. Prosecutors hold significant power, and they decide whether to file criminal charges, as well as what type of charges to file. This affects the outcome of a case, and without legal representation, you’ll likely receive the maximum sentence.

A felony offense attorney is hired to protect your rights and design an organized and defensible case to challenge the prosecutor. With a strong angle and evidence, you could receive a plea bargain, alternative sentence, reduced charges or even a dismissal of your case depending on the circumstances.

Criminal defense cases are involved, and every situation is unique. A criminal defense lawyer with trial experience understands how to manage cases and negotiate with prosecutors, is privy to the arguments that win in court, can adapt sentencing programs to clients’ needs, and presents an objective viewpoint and legal solutions based on the charges at hand.

Gathering evidence, conducting research, interviewing witnesses, preparing an argument, and organizing your case for one of the most important and nerve-wracking days of your life is what we do well. Contact the Law Office of Corey L. Scott LLC to discuss a plan for your criminal case: (317) 623-4546.

Can a Felonies Attorney Help me?

Before you plead guilty to a felony crime that could change your life forever, hiring an Indianapolis felony defense lawyer with criminal defense experience could alter the trajectory of your case.

It can take four to five months for a criminal case to transition to a trial. Without legal guidance and counsel, criminal cases can take years to resolve, especially in more complex situations.

Certain felonies are eligible for pretrial diversion, and with a criminal defense lawyer with the Law Office of Corey L. Scott LLC, we will pursue every possible option, from deferred prosecution to sentencing alternatives to probation and community corrections programs. We also will fight for a lesser sentence to major felony charges as well.

What’s important to leave here with is that you might not know the solutions available to you until you speak with a felony defense lawyer that understands the criminal justice system and what’s possible. Don’t assume you’re guilty of a crime until you’ve been convicted and the charges presented to you.

Felonies result in serious consequences that could take away your rights and freedom. If you have been charged with a felony offense or believe you have been wrongly accused of a serious crime, there’s help available to you.

Discuss your case and book a free consultation with an Indianapolis felony lawyer with the Law Office of Corey L. Scott LLC and get unique solutions for your felony case: (317) 623-4546.