All arrests in Folsom are serious matters. However, the law categorizes most criminal allegations as misdemeanors. This means that a conviction usually does not result in more than one year in jail, and defendants can often enter court-supervised diversion programs.

However, some criminal allegations are classified as felonies. A conviction for a felony offense can result in more than a year in prison, among other penalties. As a result, it is crucial to obtain legal guidance as soon as possible after a felony arrest. A Folsom felony lawyer could provide the assistance you need. Our skilled criminal defense attorneys are here to listen to your side of the story and give your case the attention it demands.

What Makes a Case a Felony?

In simple terms, a felony is any accusation of criminal wrongdoing where a conviction can result in a prison term of more than one year. Under California Penal Code § 1170 (h), a felony conviction comes with a 16 month prison sentence by default. However, most felony cases in will carry a specific penalty upon conviction. Common examples of felony offenses include:

  • Hit-and-run car accidents
  • Fraud
  • Assaults and batteries with aggravating factors
  • Incidents involving domestic violence
  • Sexual assault
  • Gun charges
  • Gang activity
  • Homicides

The common pattern behind felony charges is that they often involve severe injury to others or the destruction of valuable property. A Folsom felony attorney could provide more information about felonies and help you understand what to expect from your case process.

Promoting Powerful Defenses Against Felony Accusations

As serious as felony accusations are, the prosecutor still bears the burden of proving their case beyond a reasonable doubt. At the same time, anyone facing accusations of a felony offense has rights under the law.

When defending against a felony charge, a Folsom lawyer could work to create reasonable doubt about an accusation. For instance, our legal team could call a witness’s recollections of an event into account, dispute the accuracy of supposed scientific evidence, and provide evidence at trial that places a defendant at a different location at the time of the alleged crime.

It may also be possible to defend against felony allegations long before a case goes to trial. An attorney could challenge the admissibility of evidence that a prosecutor intends to show to a jury. If the judge agrees that this evidence violates a defendant’s rights, the judge must exclude that information from trial. In many examples, this severely weakens a prosecutor’s case. Similar concepts apply to the reasons that police officers had to make an arrest or the methods by which they obtained evidence. Effective pre-trial work helps protect the rights of the accused from day one, and a Folsom attorney could work to protect your rights at all stages of your felony case.

Contact a Folsom Felony Attorney Today

All accusations of felonies in Folsom are serious matters. Under the law, convictions can always result in prison sentences of at least one year. More severe examples could result in longer sentences and other steep penalties. Therefore, you should prioritize retaining a dedicated defense attorney.

Hiring a Folsom felony lawyer to handle your case can be an important first step. Our legal team has time and resources needed to give your case the attention that it deserves. We could listen to your side of the story and develop a strategy that meets your needs. Call our office today to schedule your initial consultation.