Criminal Felony Lawyers

If you have been arrested or charged with a felony offense in Florida, you have a lot of questions. You want to know what a felony is, the penalties, and how they will affect your life if you are convicted. Felony cases are by far the hardest and most complicated to deal with in Florida. They involve serious crimes that courts do not take lightly; therefore, you need an aggressive criminal defense team in Jacksonville by your side.

What is a Felony?

Felony offenses are handled by circuit court judges and can be punishable by more than one year in prison if convicted. Some examples of felonies seen in Florida include:

• Aggravated Assault
• Battery
• Burglary
• Battery of a Police Officer
• Child Abuse
• Drug Possession
• Grand Theft
• Kidnapping
• Homicide
• Resisting Arrest with Violence
• Sex Crimes

What are the Penalties for a Felony?

The penalties for a felony can depend on the degree of a felony you are charged with, but they carry harsher sentences than a misdemeanor. Just some of the penalties you could face if you are convicted include:

• Third Degree Felony – This is punishable by up to 5 years in prison or probation and you could face up to $5,000 in fines.
• Second Degree Felony – This is punishable by up to 15 years in prison, probation, and you could face fines up to $10,000.
• First Degree Felony – This is punishable by up to 30 years in prison, probation, parole, and up to $10,000 in fines.
• Life Felony – This is punishable with life in prison without the possibility of parole or probation for the rest of your life – and a $15,000 fine.
• Capital Felony – This offense is punishable by death or life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Do Not Forget the Collateral Consequences

Not only do you face the chance of going to prison for several years, but the conviction alone can ruin the rest of your life – whether you spend two years in prison or no time in prison at all. A criminal record follows you around forever. The consequences of that criminal record are often more severe than the punishment. Just some of the ways it will affect your life include:

• Loss of civil rights
• You will not be able to obtain a state license
• You will never be able to hold public office
• You will not be able to apply for state and federal aid
• You may not be able to get a job
• You may have difficulty getting student aid
• You may be unable to rent a house
• You may not even qualify for social security disability insurance if you need it

You Have Options to Resolve Your Case

You have rights regardless if you are innocent or guilty. When you hire our team of criminal lawyers in Jacksonville at Hardesty, Tyde, Green, Ashton & Clifton, P.A. we will use one of four methods to help resolve your case. After our free case assessment, we can help you come up with a plan for defending your rights – and hopefully, limiting your time in jail. If you are found innocent, our attorneys will aggressively work to erase your arrest record so that you do not have a felony arrest on your background checks.

Just some of the things a criminal defense attorney can do for you during a felony arrest include:

• Offer the option of a diversion program to the prosecutor
• Go through plea negotiations with the prosecution
• Litigate and file for a motion to dismiss, suppress evidence, etc
• Go to trial and defend your rights and work for a favorable verdict from the jury or judge

Contact a Criminal Lawyer in Jacksonville FL Now

If you have been arrested or you are being tried for a felony, you need a law firm with years of experience handling felony cases. Prosecutors are determined to get their felony conviction and a felony on your record could ruin your life – whether you were innocent or not.

Contact our team of criminal lawyers in Jacksonville FL at Hardesty, Tyde, Green & Ashton, P.A. today for a consultation regarding your felony arrest. We can defend your rights.