100% Secure and ConfidentialFelonies are the most serious criminal charges in Georgia. Anyone convicted of a felony can end up in prison for more than a year and suffer other consequences upon completion of their sentence. If you are accused of a felony, please call Moffitt Law, LLC, to secure a strong defense. A Carrollton felony charges lawyer will meet for a consultation to discuss the evidence against you and your possible sentence.
We Handle Felony Charges in Georgia
Georgia defines felonies as offenses that carry at least a one-year prison sentence. Our felony charges lawyer can help anyone accused of some of the most serious felonies.
Aggravated Assault
The crime of aggravated assault is spelled out in OCGA § 16-5-21. It is a crime to assault another person:
- With an intent to rob, rape, or murder
- With a deadly weapon
- With an object to strangulate
- By discharging a firearm without legal justification toward a person or occupied home or car
Defendants face 1-20 years in prison if convicted. A felony charges lawyer can review the case against you and see if there are holes or gaps in the evidence. For example, there might not be any proof a car or house was occupied.
Theft by Taking
If you unlawfully take or appropriate someone’s property, you can face felony theft charges. The key factor will be the value of the property or if you have prior convictions. Someone accused of stealing more than $1,500 can face a felony charge.
Theft by Receiving
It is a felony to receive stolen property if the defendant knows or should know it was stolen and the property is valued at more than $1,500. For example, a friend might steal a generator from someone’s garage and give it to you. The simple act of receiving the generator is a crime if you knew (or should have known) it was stolen.
Drug Possession
Georgia aggressively prosecutes drug crimes. A defendant will face felony charges depending on the drug they are caught with, as well as the amount. For example, Georgia makes it a felony to possess any Schedule 1 drug, like ecstasy or LSD, or any Schedule II drug. The sentence will depend on the aggregate weight.
If you have possession with intent to distribute, then you can face felony charges for any Schedule I or II drug, with a sentence of 5-30 years. The state might infer you have an intent to distribute because you have large quantities in your possession.
Hire a lawyer for felony drug charges. A simple mistake could end up sending you to prison and causing other problems down the road.
Sex Crimes
Various sex crimes qualify as felonies, and anyone accused of a sex crime should hire an experienced lawyer for felony charges. Some felony sex crimes include:
- Rape
- Statutory rape
- Sexual battery of a minor under 16
- Aggravated sodomy
Also, some crimes might be misdemeanors if committed by a first-time offender but become felonies when committed by a repeat offender. Sexual battery of an adult is an example.
Other Consequences of Felony Charges in Georgia
A lengthy sentence is only one penalty defendants dread. There are other repercussions to deal with:
- Loss of gun rights. Felons are prohibited from possessing a firearm, and any violation could result in even stiffer penalties.
- Loss of voting rights. Felons will lose their voting rights until they complete their sentence and pay all associated fees. In 2018, more than 266,000 Georgians were disenfranchised because they were convicted felons.
- Loss of public benefits. Felons are prohibited from accessing many public benefits, such as public housing.
- Sex offender registry. Georgia maintains a public registry for sex offenders. Failure to register according to law is also a crime.
Many felons also struggle to reintegrate into society. Georgia employers typically pull a background check before hiring someone for a job, and they might hesitate to hire an applicant with a criminal history. Landlords often follow the lead of employers and reject applicants with arrests or convictions.
It is critical to fight these charges. Contact a Carrollton felony charges lawyer at our firm to discuss the best way to proceed. We care about your future.
How a Carrollton Felony Charges Lawyer Can Help
Our firm has different tools in our toolkit when it comes to challenging a felony charge. Here are some strategies for attacking these cases:
- Alibi. We might have proof you were not the one who committed the crime. An alibi witness might place you miles away from the scene.
- Constitutional violations. The police could have violated your constitutional rights when searching your possessions or looking at your computer or phone. We can ask a judge to suppress this evidence.
- Lack of knowledge. Most felonies require showing that a defendant acted with a certain mindset. For example, it’s not a crime to receive stolen goods if you have no idea they were stolen or no reason to suspect they were.
- Lack of criminal intent. The prosecution often needs to prove criminal intent. For example, did you intend to deprive an owner of their property? If not, then the state cannot convict you of theft.
- Reasonable doubt. The evidence might be conflicting, or eyewitnesses could have a criminal history or poor reputation for honesty. The state has a high bar they must clear—and often the evidence is too weak for them to clear it.
Call our felony charges lawyer in Carrollton to discuss your case. We benefit from as much time as possible to review the state’s evidence. But we don’t stop there. We affirmatively go out to find other evidence that proves your innocence, such as an alibi witness.
Contact a Carrollton Felony Charges Lawyer Today
Moffitt Law, LLC, has defended men and women accused of many felonies. We believe in providing a vigorous defense to any charges, and we can analyze what would be the best disposition of your case. Call us today at 762-200-2924 to schedule a consultation with a lawyer at our office to go over these charges and possible penalties.
