Denver Felony Defense Lawyer

Defending Against Felony Charges in Jefferson, Douglas, Arapahoe, and Adams Counties

Felonies are the most serious category of crime, superseding both misdemeanors and minor infractions in terms of the severity of the offense and the potential penalties for conviction. When you are charged with a felony, it could change the course of your life. In addition to any penalties you may face, a felony charge remains on your permanent record for life and it could impact your ability to secure gainful employment, among other disadvantages.

It’s crucial to secure the right legal representation when you’re facing a felony charge, and the professionals at Curtis Law Firm have the expertise you need to mount a sound legal defense. There are a few things you should know about felony charges going into the process.

Contact Curtis Law Firm today to get started with our Denver felony crime attorney.

What Is a Felony?

The defining characteristic of a felony offense is that it pertains to any criminal act that is punishable by more than one year in prison, or by death. Minor infractions often incur no more than a ticket, while misdemeanor crimes could include fines, community service, probation, and/or minimal jail time.

In some cases, particularly egregious misdemeanors can be termed gross or aggravated so that they incur more severe penalties, including more than a year of jail time. However, felonies remain the most serious criminal charges, and having a felony on your criminal record can be extremely detrimental to your life moving forward.

Felony charges can also elevate the classification and sentencing of concurrent crimes. For example, if an accidental death occurs during the commission of a felony crime, it could be deemed murder, whereas it might only be termed manslaughter (a lesser charge) if it occurred during a misdemeanor crime. It’s important to understand the magnitude of a felony charge so that you can make the best decisions regarding a plea deal or your criminal defense.

Classification of Felony Offenses

There are six classes of felony offense, with class one being the worst and class six being the least serious.  The potential penalties for these classes of felony offense are as follows:

• Class 6

Fines of $1,000-100,000 and jail time of 12-18 months.

• Class 5

Fines of $1,000-100,000 and jail time of 1-3 years.

• Class 4

Fines of $2,000-500,000 and jail time of 2-6 years.

• Class 3

Fines of $3,000-750,000 and jail time of 4-12 years.

• Class 2

Fines of $5,000-$1,000,000 and jail time of 8-24 years.

• Class 1

There are no fines associated with class one felonies, but jail time includes a life sentence or the death penalty.