Wake County Felony Charges

A felony, in the most general terms, refers to any crime that is punishable by at least a year in prison. In most cases, felony charges can be filed for:

• aggravated assault and/or battery
• arson
• blackmail and/or embezzlement
• burglary, grand theft and/or robbery
• illegal drug sales (or the intent to sell)
• murder, homicide and/or manslaughter
• perjury and/or obstruction of justice
• rape

Felonies are severe charges. The stigma, alone, can affect a person’s life forever. And, in the worst cases, felony charges can have extremely harsh sentences, including life in prison and/or the death penalty.

Should you or a loved one be charged with a felony, it's vital that you have an experienced criminal lawyer fighting for your rights. At Brad Sahl, P.C., our felony attorneys specialize in providing our clients with discrete, professional representation to:

• Reduce, if not dismiss, felony charges
• Help our clients get through the legal process so they can move on with their lives

When Felony Charges are Likely to Be Filed

In many cases, felony charges are automatically filed when a specific crime is committed (such as a murder). However, in other instances, whether a felony or a misdemeanor (a lighter charge) is filed will depend on a number of factors, including (but not limited to):

• an individual's criminal record
• the level of property damage or physical injury inflicted
• whether a deadly weapon was used during the crime

Crimes that can be filed as either misdemeanors or felonies are known as wobblers. Even if a wobbler crime is charged as a felony, it may be reduced to a misdemeanor during an arraignment or sentencing hearing. Wobbler felony charges may also be reduced following the successful completion of a probation program.

Because misdemeanors carry lighter sentences, our attorneys will exercise all possible options to try to get felony charges reduced to misdemeanors and minimize possible punishments.

Felony Sentencing

The precise sentence for a particular felony will depend on the nature of the crime, an individual's criminal record and the judge's discretion. Generally, sentences for felony charges include:

• execution (if the death penalty is applied and upheld)
• jail time (greater than 1 year)
• heavy fines and restitution fees
• probation

Collateral loss of rights also occurs for individuals convicted of felony charges. Such lost privileges can include:

• loss of voting rights
• ineligibility to run for office and serve on a jury
• grounds of an uncontested divorce
• exclusion from certain lines of work (such as being a teacher)
• prohibition from owning and/or buying firearms, body armor and ammunition
• prohibition from obtaining certain types of licenses
• deportation, if the convicted individual is not a U.S. citizen

Contact a North Carolina Criminal Defense Attorney Today

If you or a loved one has been charged with a felony, contact us today to consult with an experienced felony lawyer in Raleigh for a free initial consultation. Having an aggressive, reliable attorney represent your rights – especially when felony charges have been filed – is essential to getting through the legal process and preserving as much of your freedom, money and rights as possible.

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Law Offices of Brad Sahl, P. C.
434 Fayetteville Street
Two Hannover Square,
Suite 2040
Raleigh, NC 27601
Tel: (888) 839-4961
Fax: (919) 828-3613