NYC Felony Lawyers

When someone in New York City is facing the most serious violations of the law they have been charged with a felony. You see, there are three levels of criminal charge that a person may face in New York. Those are violations, misdemeanors, and felonies. Violations typically do not come with any jail time but the worst that a person could face with one of those would be fifteen days in jail. That compares to anywhere from fifteen days to one year for a misdemeanor. A felony is for a crime that carries with it a potential penalty of more than one year in prison.

Clearly, no one wants to spend even one minute behind bars. If you are told by arresting officers that you are looking at potentially spending more than one year in prison, you had better figure out in a hurry how you are going to defend yourself. The truth of the matter is that most of us have not given this nearly enough thought.

Many different types of crime can be classified as a felony in the state of New York. You can actually do a lot less than you might think that it would take and still qualify as having committed a felony. In fact, you might even just have enough lesser charges that they eventually stack up into being a felony at some point down the road (repeat offenders are treated differently than first-time offenders).

One of the first things that you need to do after learning that you have been charged with a felony in NYC is obtain an attorney. The police and others will try to get you to speak to them about the charges that they have brought against you. Resist the urge to defend yourself in person like this. The reality is that you have to make sure you get an attorney to protect you because they are the only ones who really know how to put the skills that they have learned from years of schooling to use to save you from the system. If you do not learn this lesson, you will surely suffer the consequences.

Keep in mind that your liberty and freedom are not the only things at stake here. You also must consider the fact that you could end up with many fines that you have to pay as well. Couple that with the fact that you may take a hit to your reputation and you can see why you would want to avoid going through the legal system without a powerful advocate at your side at all times.

At the end of the day the choice is up to you. You are the only one who can decide how important it is that you save your own skin from the system. Still, you should weight the pros and cons here of hiring a lawyer. The only real con is that you have to pay that attorney for the service that they provide. If they can keep you out of jail though, then it is well worth the money that you pay them for this help. Think about it in terms like this and things start to make a lot more sense.

New York City is a tough place to be in the prison system. You may not want to take your chances anymore than you absolutely have to. Get a lawyer to show you how you fight the system and defend yourself. Once you have done that, then you are in much better shape for getting a fair trial and a better outcome in your criminal case.

NYC Felony Defense Lawyers

Felony charge are more serious than misdemeanor charges. As the result, a felony criminal conviction carries stiffer penalties that can impact your life forever. Not only do felony convictions carry potential time in prison, there’s also a slew of classes and fines, probation, and other consequences that could tarnish your good name. Additionally, people who are convicted of a felonious charge lose many rights that everyone else in the country enjoys, such as :

– You may not vote in an election
– You may not participate as a juror
– You may not apply for or use federally subsidized housing
– You may not receive welfare benefits

Since the felony conviction is public record, anyone can access the information with a few clicks of their computer mouse. The charge can prevent you from gaining employment, housing, or even a relationship! If convicted of a felony, you may spend no less than one-year in a NY state prison. Yes, that could very well mean a stint at Rikers Island, one of the state’s most notorious prisons. The length of the prison sentence varies, however, and factors such as the nature of the charge and your criminal history impact the final decision the judge will hand down.

There are many different types of criminal charges that fall into the felonious category, including:

– Kidnapping
– Burglary/Breaking & Entering
– Sexual Assault
– Assault with a Deadly Weapon
– Drug Trafficking
– Drug Manufacturing
– Theft over $500

DEFENSE TEAM SPOTLIGHT

Todd Spodek

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Featured on Netflix's "Inventing Anna," Todd Spodek brings decades of high-stakes criminal defense experience. His aggressive approach has secured dismissals and acquittals in cases others deemed unwinnable.

NY Bar Admitted Multi-State Licensed Federal Courts

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You can be charged with a Class A – Class E felony. The class the felony falls under depends on the crime that’s committed. Class A violent felonies can result in a term of life in prison w/o the possibility of parole. Class B violent felonies can result in 25-years in prison. A Class C felony is also a violent felony (such as rape) that is punishable by up to 15-years in prison. Class D felony charges are violent felonies that can result in up to 7-years imprisonment. A Class E felony can be either violent or non-violent, eachcarrying a sentence of up to 4-years in prison.

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Legal Scenario: What Would You Do?

Scenario

You were arrested in Manhattan after a bar altercation where the other person suffered a broken jaw, and the DA's office has charged you with Assault in the Second Degree — a class D violent felony. You have no prior criminal record and are terrified about the possibility of spending years in state prison.

What kind of prison sentence am I realistically facing for a class D violent felony assault charge in New York City, and is there any way to get the charge reduced?

Attorney's Answer

Under New York Penal Law § 120.05, Assault in the Second Degree is a class D violent felony carrying a maximum sentence of seven years in state prison, with a mandatory minimum of two years if you are sentenced to incarceration. However, as a first-time offender, there are several strategies we can pursue — including negotiating with the DA to reduce the charge to Assault in the Third Degree under Penal Law § 120.00, which is a class A misdemeanor carrying a maximum of one year in jail rather than state prison time. We may also be able to present mitigating evidence such as provocation or self-defense elements to strengthen our position in plea negotiations, or if the complainant's injuries are less severe than initially reported, we can challenge the felony-level charge altogether. Every felony case in NYC starts in Criminal Court before being presented to a grand jury, so there are multiple critical stages where an experienced attorney can intervene to fight for the best possible outcome.

This is general information only. Contact us for advice specific to your situation.

criminal Lawyers NYC understands how scary it can be when facing a prison sentence and other harsh consequences. We’ll fight for justice, for your right to remain free, and for your good time. Sometimes bad things happen to good people. When our lawyers stand beside you in court, there is assurance that your life isn’t over because of a mistake. We’ll help you get a minimized prison term, reduced fines, or perhaps even the charges dismissed or reduced to a misdemeanor charge. When you’re fighting the fight of your lie, you need an attorney who will not back down. We strive to protect the rights of every client we serve. That means you, too.

A free consultation is available to discuss your case in detail. You’ll learn what our firm can do for your particular case and immediatley gain assurance in your matter. Let’s talk.