What Constitutes a Serious Felony Charge?

What’s a felony? How does it differ from a misdemeanor? Ever found yourself wondering that? Felonies are very serious crimes that will typically involve some sort of violence. They are more serious than misdemeanors which means the punishments can be worse too. Our criminal defense lawyers at the Lake of the Ozarks are here to explain what constitutes a serious felony charge in this week’s blog. A criminal charge can affect your future greatly. If you are searching for an experienced criminal defense attorney at the Lake of the Ozarks, call Deputy and Mizell today. We can be reached at 573-346-9990.

Felonies Vs. Misdemeanors

Misdemeanors and felonies are not separated by the crime being charged but are more determined by whether or not the defendant may be punished for a certain length of time or in a specific type of prison. A misdemeanor is generally a less serious criminal offense and is punishable for up to one year in jail, whereas a felony is a more serious offense punishable by more than a year in jail. Felonies are usually crimes that are viewed severely by society, such as murder, rape, burglary, kidnapping, or arson.

What Constitutes a Serious Felony Charge?

Many of the felony cases we handle involve charges of assault, battery or other violent crimes. Our Camdenton assault charge defense attorneys have successfully represented clients against a broad range of first- and second-degree assault charges. We know how to properly investigate these cases and build a case that minimizes the impact of the charges on our clients.

We also defend clients against all other types of felony charges, including the following:

Felony DWI
Drug offenses, including trafficking, distribution, manufacturing and cultivation
Violent crimes, including manslaughter, murder, kidnapping, carjacking and domestic violence
White collar crimes, including embezzlement and identity theft

It’s important to keep in mind that a charge like this can truly affect your future. You also need to keep in mind that felony cases can take MUCH longer than misdemeanor cases.

How long does it take to resolve a felony case?

The amount of time the entire criminal court process takes varies case-by-case. For example, a misdemeanor case may be resolved from initial arrest to a plea offer within a month, or a felony trial could linger without resolution for over a year. There is really no way to determine exactly how long your specific case will take.

Get Strong Criminal Defense Representation at the Lake of the Ozarks.

When you are facing charges for a felony offense, your very future is at stake. Be sure that you have the best defense representation available. Contact our office today to discuss your case with an attorney. We are available during regular business hours and by appointment evenings and weekends. You can reach us by phone at 417-532-2191 or toll free at 1-877-532-2191. We are here for you.