Across Florida and the United States, a felony crime is considered to be the most serious crime that can be committed. If a person is convicted of a felony crime, they are likely to face a lengthy prison sentence, hefty fines, and a permanent criminal record. The exact fine and length of the prison sentence will depend on the crime that was committed and the circumstances surrounding it.
If you have been convicted or arrested for criminal charges, then it is highly recommended that you seek legal advice as soon as possible. At The Law Place, a qualified criminal defense lawyer can offer you legal advice and information and guide you through your law case. Our attorneys will work to build a strong defense that can contribute to minimizing penalties.
At The Law Place in North Port, FL., our team has over 75 years of experience in dealing with felony law cases like yours. Our phone lines are always open, so we can be here to support you whenever you need us. Call our law firm today at (941) 444-4444 and receive a free consultation with a highly skilled defense lawyer.
Types of Felony Offences in North Port
A felony can be defined as a highly serious crime that is punishable with more than a year in prison or, in some circumstances, even death. According to Florida law, the following crimes are considered to be felony offenses in North Port, FL.:
- Aggravated assault or battery.
- Burglary.
- Carrying a concealed weapon.
- Child abuse.
- Carjacking
- Domestic violence.
- Drug crimes, such as the trafficking, possession, or sale of illegal drugs.
- Felony DUI.
- Homicide or murder.
- Kidnapping.
- Resisting or assaulting an officer using violence.
- Robbery.
- Sex crimes, including rape, molestation, and sexual battery.
- Stalking.
- Grand theft, or the stealing of property, such as a car.
Many of these felonies involve violence against another person, which has the potential to result in serious injury or even death, hence the severe punishments. Depending on the circumstances of the case, such as the extent of the injury, a person can be charged with one or multiple felony crimes.
If you have been accused or charged with one or more of these crimes, then it is important that you seek legal support and receive advice straight away. At The Law Place in North Port, FL., our criminal defense lawyers are highly skilled in dealing with felony cases and can help guide you through the legal process.
For a free legal consultation with a felonies lawyer serving North Port, call 941-444-4444
Penalties for Felony Crimes in North Port
Although all the crimes mentioned above are classed as felonies, in the State of Florida, there is a numerical value assigned to felony offenses, which categorizes what type of felony is applied to the crime. This ranking system has been developed by the Florida State Legislature and works on a points system. For example, the higher that a criminal offense ranks, then the more points are given, and hence, the likelihood is that the punishments will be more severe.
As noted in Florida Statute 755.081, felonies can be broken down into the following categories:
- Capital felony – A capital felony is the most serious felony that can be committed and is punishable by a lifetime behind bars without parole or the death penalty. An example of a capital felony would be first-degree murder.
- Life felony – Second to a capital felony, a life felony is punishable by life imprisonment and a fine of up to $15,000.
- A felony of the first degree – A first-degree felony is punishable by up to 30 years in prison and up to $10,000 payable in fines. Aggravated battery or robbery is a prime example of this type of felony.
- A felony of the second degree – An example of a second-degree felony could be burglary. A second-degree felony could result in up to 15 years behind bars and $10,000 payable in fines.
- A felony of the third degree – A third-degree penalty could result in a fine of up to $5000 and up to 5 years in prison.
As noted in Florida Statute 775.084, Florida operates a scheme commonly known as ‘three strikes, and you’re out.’ Therefore, if a defendant has been convicted of two or more felony charges previously, and commit a third felony offense, then the penalties could be even more severe.
North Port Felonies Lawyer Near Me 941-444-4444
Florida’s Criminal Punishment Code
Florida’s scoring system that is used to identify the minimum sentence for a charge is known as the Criminal Punishment Code (CPC). A felony charge is assigned an ‘offense level’ between 1 and 10 and carries a corresponding point value. The ‘offense level’ that is assigned to a specific crime depends on the circumstances of the crime and the amount of damage and injury caused. The more serious the crime, the higher the ranking and number of assigned points.
As an example, if a crime scores over 44 points, then it will tend to result in a minimum prison term, whereas a score of fewer than 44 points means that the judge is not required by law to send you to prison. However, depending on the circumstances of the incident, the judge may still choose to do so.
It is also worthwhile knowing that, depending on the circumstances of the felony, additional points may be added if the following occurs:
- A victim is injured as a result of the offense.
- There is a violation of legal status.
- There is a violation of firearms or weapons.
- There is a violation of community sanction.
- The perpetrator has been charged with prior felonies.
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Additional Consequences Associated With Felony Crimes in North Port
In the event that you are convicted of a felony crime in North Port, FL., then it is highly likely that you will receive severe penalties for your actions, such as a hefty fine and time behind bars. In addition, it is also likely that you will incur long term ramifications as a result of being issued with a criminal record. Receiving a criminal record can have a lasting effect on you and your loved ones and may cause issues and difficulties later in life. These may include:
- Difficulties in starting or continuing education.
- Difficulty in applying for loans, overdrafts, mortgages, and other finance.
- Difficulty in applying for types of licenses.
- Difficulty in applying for rental agreements.
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How Can a North Port Criminal Defense Attorney Help?
When facing any felony charge, it is strongly recommended to seek legal advice from a skilled criminal defense attorney. An attorney can guide you through the legal process and work with you to reduce the penalties you are potentially facing.
At The Law Place, we have a highly skilled team of criminal defense lawyers with an abundance of experience in dealing with felony cases like yours. Our law firm will support you from the moment you walk into our offices in North Port. We offer all our customers a free consultation, where we will gather crucial evidence and information about your case. At this consultation, we will also offer some no-obligation advice on the best ways to proceed.
If you chose to proceed with your case, we would then arrange a second consultation where we will begin researching and scrutinizing all the evidence and information surrounding your case. From here, we will work to develop a strong defense strategy, where we can negotiate with the prosecution and argue for reduced charges and penalties. We will do our utmost to achieve the best possible outcome.
Contact The Law Place in North Port Today!
If you have been accused or charged with a felony crime, then we strongly advise that you contact our law firm today. At The Law Place, our North Port criminal defense attorneys are highly knowledgeable in dealing with felony cases.
We understand how daunting facing criminal charges can be, which is why, at The Law Place, we pride ourselves on developing trusting and open attorney-client relationships. A North Port criminal defense attorney will support you throughout the process and work at developing a strong defense strategy that puts you in the best possible position of reducing or eliminating penalties.
What are you waiting for? Call The Law Place on (941) 444-4444 and speak to a North Port criminal defense attorney today to get started with your case. Our phone lines are open around the clock, so we can be on hand to provide information and support whenever you need it.
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