If you or someone you love has been arrested, or you even think an arrest is possible, get the advice of an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Your attorney may be able to work with the police and the prosecutor’s office to have charges reduced. Then, he or she will fight for your rights through every stage of the process, including:
- Challenging evidence
- Negotiating a plea deal when appropriate
- Arguing for bail
- Investigating your case
- Arguing your case
- Presenting your defense to a jury in the most effective way possible
And, if you are found guilty:
- Presenting mitigating factors for a lighter sentence
- Appealing your case
Understanding felonies
Whether a crime is categorized as a felony or a misdemeanor depends on the seriousness of the charge and the maximum punishment for the crime. Felony charges are reserved for society’s most serious crimes, including:
- Aggravated Assault
- DWI, third offense
- Burglary
- Arson
- Drug trafficking
- Rape
- Manslaughter and murder
Crimes that run afoul of federal laws are nearly always considered felonies. They include:
- Kidnapping across state lines
- Selling illegal drugs across states lines
- Civil rights violations
- Mail fraud
- Committing a crime on federal property or against a federal employee
The consequences for being convicted of a felony are very serious. You may have to pay a steep fine and serve significant time in state or federal prison. When you get out, you may have trouble finding a job and a place to live, and may lose some citizenship rights, such as the right to vote and own a gun. In capital cases, you may never be released, and may even face the death penalty.
The legal process
First, your attorney will begin preparing your defense immediately, and will represent you at an arraignment hearing. Here, the charges against you will be read, and you will plead either guilty or not guilty. Your attorney will request bail, if applicable, and the judge will decide whether or not to grant it and set the amount.
Then, your attorney will begin investigating the case, looking at the evidence, and determining whether the evidence can be challenged and excluded because your constitutional rights were violated. After turning over every stone and challenging the evidence, your attorney will prepare your case for trial and present your defense to a jury in the most persuasive and effective way possible.
If you have recently been arrested for a felony, contact Maroni Law as soon as possible so that we can begin preparing your defense and fighting for you.