Felonies

A felony is considered a serious crime, punishable by at least six months in prison. Examples of felony offenses include murder, rape, felonious assault, burglary, theft and possession/ trafficking in cocaine. In the state of Ohio, there are six categories of felonies, which are described using numbers to correspond with the seriousness of the offense. For instance, a felony of the first degree is extremely serious and carries a possible sentence of three to ten years in prison, while a felony of the fifth degree is much less serious in that the maximum sentence is typically a year in prison. The most serious type of felony is termed “unclassified” and is associated with aggravated murder and murder charges. An unclassified felony carries a minimum penalty of fifteen years in prison, and in the most serious circumstances, can carry the death penalty.

Why Should I Hire an Attorney for my Felony Case?

The importance of competent legal representation is so great that the Constitution guarantees every criminal defendant the right to an attorney. A criminal attorney is your best asset after being charged with a crime. This expert knows the laws and court's customs relevant to your case, and can apply this knowledge to protect and maximize your legal interests. No matter what your legal situation, a criminal attorney will help you more than you could help yourself by going it alone. In Dayton Ohio and surrounding communities, criminal defense lawyer, Jeremiah Denslow, has been practicing in local courts for many years with excellent results.

If you do not have the money to hire a lawyer, the court will appoint someone to represent you for “free.” What most people don’t know is that free attorneys aren’t really free. Courts are permitted to charge criminal defendants for attorney fees if they enter a guilty plea, or otherwise lose their case. In such a scenario, the defendant will end up paying for the “free attorney” when the court assesses financial sanctions on the defendant in the form of attorney fees.

In addition, if you ask the court for a free attorney, you have no idea whether that particular attorney is any good. There are many smart, knowledgeable attorneys who work at the public defenders office or take appointed work. However, if you choose not to hire your own attorney, you’re allowing the court to pick who will represent you. While you could get the cream of the crop, you could just as easily get the guy who just passed the bar examination and has yet to try his first case. Because the stakes are so high, the last thing you want is an inexperienced or unmotivated attorney representing you in a criminal case. It is important that your lawyer is willing to fight for you.

Going to trial, or pleading guilty, without an experienced criminal defense lawyer on your side, is normally a drastic mistake. Virtually all criminal convictions carry very serious sentences and ramifications that will follow you for the rest of your life. You should seriously consider hiring Dayton defense attorney Jeremiah Denslow, who will help to resolve the case in your favor. If you want an aggressive, experienced lawyer, call Montgomery County Ohio criminal defense attorney Jeremiah Denslow today.

As a former Montgomery County assistant prosecuting attorney and current member of the Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Jeremiah Denslow knows the strengths and weaknesses of each felony case. He can quickly ascertain the best strategy to utilize, including whether to file various motions, prepare the case for trial, negotiate a plea bargain with the prosecutor, or simultaneously do all of the above.

Felony Sentencing

Because felonies are the most serious crimes with which you can be charged, they carry the most serious consequences. Generally speaking, for a first-degree felony, you face a possibility of ten years in a state prison and a $20,000 fine; for a second-degree felony, you face a possible eight years in prison and a $15,000 fine; for a third-degree felony, you face possible penalties of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine; for a fourth-degree felony, you face a possible sentence of eighteen years in prison and a $5,000 fine; finally, for a fifth-degree felony, you face a possible year in prison and a $2,500 fine.

It is important to note that in addition to the aforementioned possibility of going to prison and being fined, the court may also sentence you to community control sanctions. Community control sanctions, also called probation when it’s imposed on a felony case, gives the court a way to supervise your behavior very closely while keeping you out of prison. If you are placed on community control sanctions, the court will impose rules and regulations by which you must abide. The terms of your community control can vary widely, but they typically include things such as obtaining and maintaining a steady job, completing community service, attending counseling sessions and substance abuse treatment, obtaining a degree or G.E.D., taking drug tests, and reporting to your probation officer on a periodic basis.

In addition, if you are sentenced to community control sanctions, the court has the power to place you in a local jail or jail-like facility for a period of six months; the court can sentence you to an in-patient drug treatment program which you will not be allowed to leave; and depending on the offense, the court may have the ability to suspend, or permanently revoke, your driver’s license.

Community control can last for up to five years in the State of Ohio, and the length of your supervision usually varies depending on a number of factors, including the court in which you are charged, the judge before which you appear, the probation officer to which you are assigned, the seriousness of your offense, your conduct while on supervision and numerous other considerations. If you violate the terms of your community control, your probation officer will most likely file a probation revocation, which starts a whole new legal proceeding against you. Often times, if you violate the terms of your community control sanctions, the judge, prosecutor, and probation officer will all want to send you to prison.

Depending on the type of offense with which you are charged, the court may be required by law to send you to prison. Many drug crimes carry mandatory prison time, and the court does not have the option of granting community control sanctions in those types of cases.

Criminal Defense attorney, Jeremiah Denslow, can assist you if you are charged with a felony in the state of Ohio. You should not walk into a courtroom without an experienced defense attorney protecting your rights and fighting for you. Defense lawyer, Jeremiah Denslow, handles criminal felony cases in all of southern Ohio, including Dayton and Montgomery County, Xenia and Greene County, Lebanon and Warren County, Springfield and Clark County, and Hamilton and Butler County.

Criminal Defense lawyer, Jeremiah Denslow, can assist if you’ve been charged with any felony, including any of the following: