Houston Felony Defense Lawyer

Protecting the Rights of Clients Facing Serious Allegations

Facing felony charges can be intimidating since the consequences of a conviction are severe. It’s critical that you understand what you’ve been accused of and what the penalties may be if you’re found guilty, so you should contact a Houston felony defense lawyer for legal advice as soon as you can after your arrest.

At the Cory Roth Law Office, we understand the impact a felony conviction can have on your life, which is why we will aggressively fight your charges so you can get the best possible outcome on your case. If you have questions about your felony charges or are ready to hire us to craft a strong defense strategy, contact our Houston office today.

What Crimes Are Considered Felonies in Texas?

Most criminal offenses are categorized as either misdemeanors or felonies. Misdemeanors are crimes that are punishable by up to one year in jail, while felonies can lead to years in jail or prison. In fact, violent felonies that harm or kill other people could result in life in prison or the death penalty. This is why you should hire an experienced lawyer to fight your felony charges, as the consequences of a conviction are too severe to ignore.

Some examples of felony criminal charges in Texas include:

• Arson
• Grand theft
• Aggravated assault
• Manslaughter
• Stalking
• Murder
• Robbery
• Child pornography
• Sexual assault
• Drug trafficking

Some crimes can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the circumstances. For example, theft of property valued at less than $2,500 is a misdemeanor, but stealing property valued over that amount would be a felony. Similarly, drug crimes can be misdemeanors or felonies depending on the type and amount of substances involved. Your Houston felony defense lawyer will inform you how your charges are classified and what penalties you should expect if convicted.

What Are the Penalties of Texas Felony Offenses?

Texas classifies felonies into five categories, each with its own penalties to be aware of. Note that felonies in Texas usually result in not only jail or prison time, but also fines of up to $10,000 and other possible penalties.

The most serious degree of felony is a capital felony. The punishment is usually either the death penalty or life in prison without parole. The most commonly charged felony of this kind is capital murder, but some extreme cases involving treason, kidnapping, or certain sex crimes can also be charged as capital felonies.

The next most serious felony in Texas is a first-degree felony. Crimes that fall into this category include aggravated robbery, murder, attempted murder, and arson causing death. A first-degree felony conviction can result in 5 to 99 years in state prison.

Second-degree felonies can lead to 2 to 20 years in state prison. Such crimes can include robbery, manslaughter, bribery, and aggravated assault. Third-degree felonies are slightly less severe, leading to 2 to 10 years in state prison. Such offenses can include third DWI, stalking, and tampering with evidence.

Finally, the least severe degree of felony is a state jail felony. Examples include evading arrest, check forgery, or child endangerment DWI. If convicted of this type of crime, you could spend six months to two years in state jail.

No matter which type of felony you’ve been charged with, you will likely be ordered to pay costly fines and spend time in prison or jail. You will also have a felony conviction on your record, which can bar you from voting, owning a gun, or working in certain industries. If you want a chance to avoid such penalties, you should hire a lawyer to use their legal knowledge to defend you from felony charges in Texas. Contact the Cory Roth Law Office to learn more.

What Is a Federal Felony Charge?

While knowing the degree of the felony charges against you is important, it’s also critical to know whether they’re considered state or federal charges. After all, federal charges often have more serious penalties since they accuse you of breaking the laws of your country, not just your state. This is why you need to hire an attorney with experience handling federal felony charges.

Some examples of federal criminal charges include:

• Human trafficking
• Drug crimes that accuse you of crossing state lines
• Certain white-collar crimes, such as wire fraud, forgery, tax evasion, and money laundering
• Possession of child pornography
• Kidnapping
• Any criminal offense committed on federal property
• Certain gun crimes, such as illegal possession or transportation of firearms

Your Houston felony defense attorney will tell you if you’re accused of a federal crime, since you will need to know if your case will be tried in the federal or state court system as you prepare for your upcoming court date. If you’re ready to talk to a legal team that can confidently handle both federal and state cases in Texas, call our Houston law office today.

Why Should You Hire a Trusted Houston Felony Defense Lawyer?

If you’re convicted of any felony in this state, you will likely be punished by fines, community service, and jail or prison time. Such penalties would likely disrupt your life, as they could lead to financial difficulties, job loss, and other long-term consequences. Fortunately, you have a chance to avoid or at least minimize these penalties when you hire a criminal defense lawyer to defend you.

If you’re concerned about the possibility of being found guilty of one or more felonies, it’s essential that you talk to an experienced lawyer about your legal options. You might be surprised at how much a legal professional can help with your criminal case, even when the evidence against you seems impossible to fight. If you’re ready to learn how we can defend your legal rights, call 832-400-4133 for an initial consultation at our Houston law office.