Lincolnton Criminal Defense Lawyer

No one wants to be convicted of a crime. Working with ineffective legal counsel or attempting to defend oneself in court is likely to result in a conviction. You may even face a potentially unfair sentence. The harsh treatment of criminal convictions is why it would be beneficial for you to hire a quality criminal defense lawyer to defend you and protect your rights.

A criminal conviction can impede your life in many ways, including:

• Jeopardizing your chances of being accepted to college
• Making you ineligible to receive federal financial aid for higher education
• Putting you at a disadvantage or excluding you from certain job opportunities
• Losing certain rights such as the right to vote or own a firearm
• Getting looked over for housing opportunities
• Having your license suspended 

Ultimately, a criminal conviction can be penalized with fines and incarceration. They also carry numerous social and professional consequences.

Many states have different classifications for crimes. Those charged with a crime should be aware of what system their state uses to categorize offenses as it could help them and their lawyer build a strong defense for their case. Felonies are the most severe category of criminal offense, so they carry the worst penalties, such as significant fines and prison time. 

In North Carolina, felonies are divided into ten lettered categories ranging from class A to I. Class A felonies are the most serious felony offenses, while Class I felonies are the least serious. If a statute declares a crime to be a felony but does not classify it, it is classified as a Class I felony. Each class of felony carries its own set of penalties. 

Examples of crimes for each felony class include:

• Class A: These are the most severe felonies and can carry a death sentence or life with or without parole.
• Class B1: These high-level felonies typically involve first-degree rape or aggravated child molestation and carry a sentence of 144 months to life in prison without parole.
• Class B2: These felonies typically include crimes like second-degree murder and carry sentences of 94 to 393 months in prison.
• Class C: These felonies include crimes like second-degree rape, second-degree sexual offense, first-degree kidnapping, and embezzlement of $100,000 or more. You could be sentenced to 44 to 182 months in prison.
• Class D: These felonies include voluntary manslaughter, burglary, and arson. You could be sentenced to 38 to 160 months in prison.
• Class E: These felonies include various forms of assault and misuse of a firearm. You could be sentenced to 15 to 63 months in prison.
• Class F: These felonies include crimes like involuntary manslaughter, certain types of assault, and habitual impaired driving. You could be sentenced to 10 to 41 months in prison.
• Class G: These felonies include crimes like second-degree burglary, second-degree arson, common law robbery, and identity theft. You could be sentenced to 8 to 31 months in prison.
• Class H: These felonies include crimes like assault by strangulation, breaking and entering, hit and run, and embezzlement of less than $100,000. You could be sentenced to 4 to 25 months in prison.
• Class I: These are the least severe felonies and include crimes like breaking or entering motor vehicles, check forgery, and obtaining a controlled substance through fraud. You could be sentenced to 3 to 12 months in prison.

Numerous different crimes fall into these categories. Talk to a knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer for more information about the class of crime you are being charged with.

Although hiring legal counsel may seem excessive, it could be the best thing you can do for your case. Criminal defense lawyers are trained to recognize the nuances in every case. Having an experienced criminal defense lawyer research your case, look at the evidence, and guide you through the legal process can potentially make a difference in the outcome of your case. Your attorney may be able to anticipate the prosecution’s actions and construct a strategy to work in your favor using skills they have honed from years of practicing law.