Felony Lawyers in Clarksville

Helping You Fight Felony Charges

Any time you are arrested and charged with a crime, it can be scary and confusing. However, when you find out that the charges against you are felony charges, it’s even more serious. Felony charges can mean serious jail time and can have a huge impact on your future, even after you’ve paid your debt to society. Find out how a criminal defense attorney can help you when you are facing felony charges and what your options are below.

If you’re looking for an attorney to help you fight felony charges, call our Clarksville law firm to schedule a free consultation. At Hibbeler & Associates, we have experienced criminal defense attorneys who understand the seriousness of felony charges and will do everything in their power to help you fight these charges.

What Determines Whether a Charge Is a Felony?

Criminal charges are classified into two categories either misdemeanors or felonies. In Tennessee, a felony charge is any charge that carries a penalty of at least one year in prison if convicted. Many charges can be either misdemeanors or felonies, depending on whether it was a repeat offense and whether it was a violent crime. 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 injured someone while you were driving under the influence. Even in a first offense, this upgrades the charge to vehicular assault, which is a felony.

What Happens If I’m Convicted of a Felony?

If you are convicted of a felony, you will likely have to pay a fine to the courts — or restitution to a victim — and you will likely be sentenced to time in prison. How much the fine is, or the length of the prison sentence, depends on the nature of the crime and your defense team. Many charges have minimum penalties for a conviction, which is one reason why it’s important to have a strong defense team who may be able to help you get charges reduced, so you’re facing smaller penalties. After you have served your sentence, you may be responsible for reporting your felony conviction to potential employers as well.

What Are Some Examples of Felony Charges?

Some of the more common types of felony charges are drug crimes and violent crimes. Most charges in these two categories have possible sentences that include lengthy jail time. Property and theft crimes are also common felony charges. However, these crimes — especially if they were nonviolent in nature — are usually only charged as felonies if they are repeat offenses or if the value of the items stolen was more than $1,000. Violent theft crimes, such as robbery with a weapon, are felonies. Sex crimes are serious felony charges as well.

How Can a Criminal Defense Attorney Help Me?

If you have been charged with a felony crime, the first thing you should do is ask for an attorney. However, all attorneys are not created equal, and when your future hangs in the balance, you want an experienced defense attorney like the ones we have at Hibbeler & Associates. A strong defense team can ensure that you know your rights when you are being questioned by police and don’t give them more evidence through your interview. An attorney will check to ensure that all evidence being 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 the right one for your case depends on the nature of the charges involved, the evidence the state has against you, and any prior criminal history? Your attorney 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.

Take the first step toward protecting your future when you contact Hibbeler & Associates for a free consultation. 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. Call our Clarksville office at 931-236-2711.