Those who are facing felony criminal charges may have acted out of necessity, acted unknowingly, or could be accused of a crime they did not commit. Individuals in the criminal court system deserve a qualified Little Rock felony defense lawyer to create a strong defense. A felony conviction can impact your rights and hurt future opportunities for the rest of your life. If you are facing felony charges, you deserve a second chance.
The attorneys at Lemley Law Partners understand how upsetting and stressful it is to face felony charges. The criminal justice system can feel isolating, but we want to fight for you and be on your side. Our team has 50 collective years of experience in criminal law, and we are diligent in our defense of the members of our community in Little Rock accused of crimes. We advocate fiercely to dismiss charges or minimize penalties for the charges you face.
A felony charge is a criminal charge with a sentence of 1 year or more in state prison, and each felony crime has different sentencing guidelines based on several factors. Felony crimes include drug trafficking, certain drug possession offenses, aggravated and violent crimes, and repeat DWIs (driving while intoxicated). Penalties for different types of felonies include:
Criminal penalties are not the only consequences of a felony charge, and some consequences can change your life. When you are convicted of a felony, it may impact your life in other ways, including:
A felony conviction also means that you will have a criminal record, which can affect your entire future long after you have served a sentence. A criminal record can affect you in the following ways:
The aid of an experienced attorney in Little Rock is your greatest chance of mitigating these consequences and potentially getting the charges dropped. Talk with an attorney to determine possible options for your defense.
When you have been convicted of more than 1 but less than 4 felonies in Arkansas, the prison length sentencing for felony convictions will become greater. Depending on the specific felonies, the extended penalties for these convictions are:
Yes, Arkansas still has a three-strikes law for certain violent felonies, such as conspiracy to commit murder, use of a prohibited weapon, first-degree battery, and first-degree sexual abuse. After three strikes, sentencing has different mandatory minimums without parole, depending on the charge. State law also imposes a two-strikes law for repeating violent crimes like murder, rape, and terrorist acts. After two strikes, crimes have a mandatory minimum sentence of 40 years in prison.
Felonies do not automatically go away from your criminal record in Arkansas, but certain felony charges could be sealed. Both the individual convicted of the crime and the victim of the crime have the ability to request a record sealing in the state. Sealing a record means that the offense will not show up in background checks, and the convicted person can legally claim that the criminal offense did not occur.
Misdemeanors, non-violent Class C and D felonies, unclassified felonies, and specific drug-related Class A or B felonies are eligible for sealing. Some other felonies may be sealed after a 5-year waiting period. Being eligible does not always mean that the record will be sealed, but many first offenders who were convicted of non-felonies can apply to have their records sealed with no waiting period.
A Class B felony in Arkansas is neither the least serious nor the most serious felony offense. If an individual is convicted of a Class B felony, they may face a minimum of 5 years and up to 20 years in prison, depending on the type of crime and the factors of their offense. A conviction also may result in a fine of up to $15,000. Offenses listed as Class B felonies include:
Lemley Law Partners has the skills and resources you need to find an appropriate and effective defense. We can work to eliminate or limit the penalties you face. We believe that those who have been charged with crimes deserve respect and a strong legal defense. Contact us today to see how we can help.