Felonies
McKinney Felony Defense Lawyer
Personalized Legal Representation from a Former Prosecutor Who Knows How to Win
Texas law categorizes felonies into five classes with varying penalties. Felonies carry serious jail and prison terms, as well as hefty fines. If you have been accused of a felony in McKinney, do not hesitate to take legal action in your defense. An experienced lawyer can make the difference between years in jail and reduced or dismissed charges.
Attorney Chris Fredericks has been defending clients for 16 years in the criminal justice system. He also served as a former prosecutor for over 10 years at the Collin County District Attorney’s Office. He has tried over 150 jury trials and well over 300 bench trials; his list of experience goes on. Felony charges can be complex, and the prosecution can be tough. As someone who has been in the prosecutor’s shoes before, Attorney Fredericks knows their game plan and can help you build a formidable defense in anticipation of the prosecutor’s likely claims. He will work one-on-one with you throughout the entire process to build a unique, challenging defense.
Work with a former prosecutor who knows how to win; let the Law Office of Christ Fredericks handle your felony defense today. Schedule a free initial consultation here.
Capital Felonies
The first category of felonies in Texas is capital felonies, which are the most severe type of felonies in the state. Capital felonies are punishable by life imprisonment (without the possibility of parole) or the death penalty. Some examples of capital offenses are capital murder and capital felony murder. Note that some crimes may have a statute of limitations that provide a time limit required to bring forward a criminal case, but murder has no statute of limitations; individuals can allege murder, for instance, even decades after the fact.
First Degree Felonies
The second most serious category of felony in Texas is first degree felonies. First degree felonies are punishable by
up to life imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum jail sentence of 5 years. Judges may also impose a fine of
$10,000. First degree felony offenses include:
- aggravated robbery;
- arson causing death;
- attempted murder.
Second Degree Felonies
The next category of felonies is second degree felonies, which are punishable by 2-20 years in jail and up to $10,000
in fines. Some examples of second degree felonies are:
- selling 5-50 pounds of marijuana;
- manslaughter;
- aggravated assault;
- robbery;
- arson.
Third Degree Felonies
Third degree felonies are punishable by up to 10 years in jail, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 2 years.
Convicted individuals may also face up to $10,000 in fines. Third degree felonies include stalking, tampering with
evidence, and deadly conduct with a firearm, among other offenses.
State Jail Felonies
Lastly, state jail felonies are punishable by 180 days to 2 years in state jail and up to $10,000 in fines.
Generally, if a crime is designated as a felony but its class of felony unspecified, it will be penalized as a state
jail felony. State jail felonies include forgery of checks, DWI endangering a child, and theft of
property valued between $2,500-$30,000.
State jail felonies may be enhanced to the third degree felony level if:
- the defendant has certain prior convictions;
- the offender used a deadly weapon in the commission of the underlying crime; or
- the defendant has been convicted of 2 or more state jail felonies in the past.
Alternatively, the presence of mitigating factors may reduce a state jail felony to a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in state jail. It is similarly possible, however, for a Class A misdemeanor to rise to the state jail felony level if the defendant has a criminal history.
Don’t Let a Felony Ruin Your Future
The above are only the basic consequences of specific felony charges. Other collateral consequences for felony charges include losing the right to vote, losing your right to firearms, and being barred from certain professions. The more serious the accusation, the more you could lose.
If you have been accused of a felony in Texas, whether a state jail felony or a more severe first degree felony, enlist legal representation immediately. The sooner we start on your defense, the sooner we can get you out of your legal mess. The Law Office of Chris Fredericks is committed to providing personalized, professional, and knowledgeable representation. We are led by an attorney who has a breadth of experience as both a prosecutor and a defender, and he is a lawyer who knows how to win.
Contact Attorney Chris Fredericks online to discuss your defense options today.