COLUMBUS FELONY DEFENSE LAWYER
Defending against a felony
Home | Criminal Defense | Felony Charge
EXPERIENCED FELONY DEFENSE ATTORNEY IN COLUMBUS
Felony charges are reserved for only the most severe criminal offenses, such as aggravated battery and criminally negligent homicide. Hefty fines and lengthy prison sentences often accompany felony charges.
Being convicted of a felony can wreak havoc on your life. Most felonies cannot be expunged. A felony conviction could haunt you for the rest of your life, preventing you from furthering your career and completing other essential activities like qualifying for housing or educational opportunities.
We stand ready to represent our clients against felony charges. Our Columbus felony lawyers will work with you to develop a comprehensive legal strategy for your case and help you confidently navigate your defense.
To schedule a consultation with our firm and receive legal counsel you can trust, contact us online, or via phone at (614) 433-6818.
What Our Clients
Are Saying
Nathan Akamine has been recognized as one of the top Columbus criminal defense lawyers in the region. Let Akamine Criminal Defense Law fight for you.
What Our Clients
Are Saying
Nathan Akamine has been recognized as one of the top Columbus criminal defense lawyers in the region. Let Akamine Criminal Defense Law fight for you.
FELONY CLASSIFICATIONS IN COLUMBUS
Crimes in Ohio (and other US states) are categorized according to severity.
From least severe to most severe, the categories of criminal charges are:
- Class C misdemeanor
- Class B misdemeanor
- Class A misdemeanor
- State jail felony
- Third-degree felony
- Second-degree felony
- First-degree felony
- Capital felony
Class C misdemeanors are the lowest level of criminal offense. Class C misdemeanors are crimes like traffic citations, issuing a bad check for under $20, leaving a child alone inside a vehicle, being intoxicated in public, etc.
Compared to misdemeanors, felonies are the most serious type of criminal offense and have the most severe sentences. Let’s go over the different kinds of felonies in Ohio.
STATE JAIL FELONY CHARGES
A state jail felony is a crime punishable by 180 days to 2 years in prison and a fine of $2,000 or less.
Common state jail felonies include:
- Driving while intoxicated (DWI) with a child in the car;
- Criminally negligent homicide;
- Cruelty to animals;
- Holding less than a gram of a controlled or illegal substance;
- Forgery;
- Interfering with child custody.
Third-Degree Felony Charges
Third-degree felonies have harsher penalties than state jail felonies and are punishable by 2-10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Common third-degree felonies include:
- A third-offense DUI/OVI;
- Tampering with evidence;
- Stalking;
- Deadly conduct with a firearm;
- Assault while intoxicated.
Second-Degree Felony Charges
Second-degree felonies are punishable by 2-20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Common second-degree felonies include:
- Human trafficking;
- Manslaughter and manslaughter while intoxicated;
- Sexual assault;
- Aggravated assault;
- Indecent contact with a child.
First-Degree Felony Charges
First-degree felonies are punishable by 5-99 years in prison (or more if a judge deems it appropriate), and a fine of up to $10,000.
Common first-degree felonies include:
- Sexual assault against a child;
- Aggravated robbery or kidnapping;
- Assaulting a public servant, disabled person, senior citizen, or child;
- Soliciting capital murder.
Capital Felony Charges
Capital felonies are punishable by death. Capital felony offenses classify the most heinous crimes an individual can commit, according to the Texas legal system.
Common capital felonies include:
- Premeditated capital murder;
- Genocide;
- Treason;
- Espionage.
Life-Altering Impact of Felony Convictions
We’ve already covered the legal penalties for felony offenders in Ohio, but felony charges often impact the lives of accused individuals in a variety of ways. Being convicted of a felony can change your life forever, even after serving your prison sentence and paying the associated fine.
If you’re charged with a felony, here are some things you should know:
- Felonies are expensive. In addition to the legal fines imposed on felony offenders, people accused of a felony must also pay for legal representation. Depending on the kind of charge you’re facing, your case could take a significant amount of time to resolve, increasing your legal fees. Many people can’t work while facing felony charges either, compounding on the financial impact of the charge.
- Felonies are more restrictive than other criminal offenses. For less serious offenses like misdemeanors, many offenders can get a reduced sentence or probation for good behavior. Felonies are more restrictive. Felony offenders aren’t eligible for good behavior sentence reductions, and only certain felony charges can qualify for probation.
- Convicted felons lose various rights while they’re serving their sentence. Until you finish serving your sentence, you won’t be able to vote. Additionally, you’ll need to wait five years after receiving your felony conviction to regain the right to own a firearm in your residence.
- A felony on your record could hurt your career. Many employers shy away from hiring convicted felons. Employers often see criminal records as an indictment of a person’s ethics or behavior. Being convicted of a felony could derail your career for years or even decades after your conviction.
- A felony conviction can make day-to-day life harder. In addition to finding employment, a felony conviction makes doing anything that requires a background check difficult. This applies to actions like finding housing. Many landlords are reticent to allow convicted felons to rent or own property.
Talk to Nathan Akamine for FREE
If you or a loved one are facing criminal charges, let's talk.
Why choose us?
When facing a felony charges in Columbus, you need an attorney who understands the unique aspects of the criminal justice system.
Personalized Defense
You won’t be just another case number. Every case is unique, and so is our approach. We take the time to understand the specifics of your case and develop a defense strategy that aims for the best possible outcome.
Local Experience
Years of experience in Columbus courtrooms have allowed us to build professional relationships with local prosecutors and judges that can benefit your case through more productive negotiations and respected advocacy.
Highly recommended
Proven Results
Contact me for a free consultation.
If you’re facing felony charges in Columbus or the surrounding areas, you need a defense attorney who understands Ohio’s legal system and will fight to protect your rights. My team and I are ready to begin working on your case immediately. We are committed to minimizing the impact on your life and securing the best possible outcome.
Call us now at (614) 433-6818 or fill out our online form to schedule your free consultation. Remember, when it comes to juvenile criminal charges in Columbus, early intervention is key.
Let us help you navigate this challenging time and work towards the best possible outcome for you.
