Felony Criminal Defense Attorney: Strong Defense Against Felony Charges

Helping You Fight Felony Charges

Any time you are arrested and charged with a crime, it can be scary and confusing. However, facing felony charges is an even more serious situation. Felony charges can result in significant jail time and have a massive impact on your future, even after you have paid your debt to society.

A felony conviction can significantly impact the rest of your life and prevent you from legally owning or possessing firearms, the right to vote, enroll in the college of your choice, or join the military. Furthermore, a felony conviction can make finding gainful employment, housing, or a professional license challenging.

If you are looking for an attorney to help you fight felony charges, call our Clarksville law firm to schedule a free consultation. We have a proven record of helping clients in Montgomery County and the surrounding counties. At the Law Office of Hibbeler & Associates, we have experienced criminal defense attorneys who understand the seriousness of felony charges and will do everything they can to help you fight them.

Find out how a criminal defense attorney can help you when you are facing felony charges and what your options are below.

What Determines Whether a Criminal Offense is Charged As a Felony?

Criminal charges are classified into two categories: misdemeanors and felonies. In Tennessee, a felony is any charge with a penalty of at least one year in prison if convicted. Misdemeanors usually involve less serious offenses, such as petty theft, reckless driving, and public intoxication, and they usually result in less severe penalties than felonies.

However, many charges can be either misdemeanors or felonies, depending on whether they were repeat offenses or violent crimes.

For example, a DUI charge is generally a misdemeanor if it is the first offense. However, you can be charged with a felony if you injure someone while you are driving under the influence. Even in a first offense, this upgrades the charge to vehicular assault, which is a felony.

The criminal justice system can be challenging to navigate independently. If you are facing criminal charges, you need a criminal defense lawyer to provide you with skilled legal representation. Our team may be able to work with prosecutors to try to have your case dismissed or reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor.

Contact our law firm today to schedule a free consultation with a Clarksville criminal defense attorney who will gladly review your case.

What Are Some Examples of Felony Charges?

Some of the more common types of felony charges are drug charges and violent crimes. Most charges involving drugs or violent crime result in defendants who are found guilty being sentenced to lengthy jail time.

Property and theft crimes are also standard felony charges. However, these crimes, especially if they are nonviolent in nature, are usually only charged as felonies if they are repeat offenses or if the value of the stolen items is more than $1,000. Violent theft crimes, such as robbery with a deadly weapon and carjacking, are also charged as felonies.

Other examples of felonies include sex crimes and drug crimes. Additionally, even though domestic assault is generally charged as a misdemeanor, a third or subsequent conviction can result in a defendant being sentenced under felony guidelines.

Felonies are serious criminal charges that require the help of a skilled Clarksville criminal lawyer. Our experienced legal team has significant experience handling criminal law cases and will work tirelessly to protect your rights.

What Happens If I Am Convicted of a Felony?

Tennessee criminal laws impose harsh penalties for felony offenses. If you are convicted of a felony, you will likely be sentenced to time in prison, ordered to pay steep court costs and fines, and, depending on the circumstances involved, pay restitution to a victim.

The length of the prison sentence, or how much the fine will be, depends on the nature of the crime and the determination of your defense team. Many charges have minimum penalties for a conviction, so it is essential to have a strong defense team that may help you get charges reduced so you could face smaller penalties.

After you have served your sentence, you may be responsible for reporting your felony conviction to potential employers as well. If you were convicted of a sex crime, you may also be required to register as a sex offender.

Finally, a felony conviction can result in the loss of constitutional rights, including the right to vote and bear arms.

One of the best ways to avoid the legal implications of a felony conviction is to hire a defense lawyer. Our Clarksville criminal defense attorneys are dedicated to protecting clients’ legal rights and will fight to help you avoid a criminal conviction.

Can Felony Convictions Be Expunged in Tennessee?

Tennessee law does allow some felony convictions to be expunged. Class C, D, and E felonies generally qualify for expungement but are thoroughly reviewed before an expungement is granted. When a felony is expunged, it is sealed and no longer available to the general public. Due to the ease of conducting a background check, having a felony expunged can significantly increase an individual’s chances of achieving their goals.

However, felonies that involve violent crimes, sexual offenses, and those that involve minors are not eligible for expungement.

The legal requirements to have an eligible felony expunged include:

The individual can only have two or fewer eligible convictions
The individual must have completed their sentence, including any probation they may have been ordered to serve. For Class C and D felonies, the applicant must have completed their sentence at least 10 years prior, and five years prior for Class E felonies
The individual must have paid all fines and court costs involved with their case
The individual must not have been arrested or convicted of other offenses during the waiting period

What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Criminal Defense Attorney to Represent Me?

No one likes the idea of facing criminal charges. However, hiring a criminal defense attorney is the best way to avoid a potential criminal conviction. Criminal defense attorneys provide clients with legal counsel to fight the charges.

Some of the most significant advantages of hiring a criminal defense attorney include:

Professional evaluations: Defense attorneys have the skills to assess cases and determine what legal options are available
Evaluate the state’s case: An attorney can thoroughly evaluate the state’s case and determine the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence
File motions: Your attorney can file pre-trial motions asking that the case be dismissed, charges reduced, or argue that evidence should be excluded
Negotiate a plea deal: A defense attorney can work closely with the prosecution to work out a favorable plea deal to help avoid the defendant being sentenced to prison
Take the case to trial: If the prosecution is unwilling to offer a favorable plea deal, a criminal defense lawyer can take the case to court and ensure you receive a fair trial to resolve the matter

Our lawyers in Clarksville, Tennessee, have a proven record of representing clients in criminal defense cases. Contact our law firm to schedule a free initial consultation.

Why Should I Trust Your Law Firm With My Legal Defense?

If you have been charged with a felony, you should first ask for a lawyer. However, not all criminal defense lawyers are created equal, and when your future hangs in the balance, you want experienced legal representation.

At the Law Office of Hibbeler & Associates, our strong defense team can ensure that you know your rights when police question you and that you do not give them more evidence. An attorney will also ensure that all evidence presented against you has gone through the proper chain of custody and that all rules and regulations have been followed.

A criminal lawyer also plays an integral role in creating your defense strategy. Which strategy is right for your case depends on the nature of the charges involved, the evidence the state has against you, and any prior criminal history. Our criminal lawyers will discuss all of your options with you, including accepting a plea deal, to ensure that you can make educated decisions about how you want to proceed in your case.

When you contact the Law Office of Hibbeler & Associates for a free 30-minute case evaluation, you take the first step toward protecting your future. When your freedom is on the line, you want knowledgeable defense attorneys who understand the Tennessee court system and are there to help you every step of the way. Contact our Clarksville, TN office at 931-236-2711 to learn more about our legal services and how we can protect your rights and freedom.