If you have been arrested for a crime in Connecticut, you will be charged with either a “felony” or “misdemeanor.” The difference in the two is the severity of the charge and therefore the potential punishment, including jail time and fines, that you may face. A felony in Connecticut is considered more severe than a misdemeanor. A criminal defense attorney will help you understand the difference under Connecticut law.
FELONY DEFENSE ATTORNEYS IN CONNECTICUT
Some types of crimes, such as assault, manslaughter, threatening and breach of peace have several different “degrees.” For example, if a person is in a fight in Hartford, that person could be charged with Assault in the Second Degree or Assault in the Third Degree. The degree is simply a way of describing how serious the assault is.
More importantly, however, each felony is assigned one of several “classes.” Each class of felony in Connecticut carries a different potential period of incarceration and fines. The six different classes of criminal felonies in Connecticut are Class A, B, C. D, E, or “Unclassified.” A class A felony is the most serious, and a Class E is the least serious. An Unclassified felony simply means that the possible punishment is defined by the statute that describes the crime itself.
The statute (the law) that describes the crime also sets for the class of felony. For example, the Assault statute states in part:
53a-60. Assault in the second degree: Class D or C felony. (a) A person is guilty of assault in the second degree when: (1) With intent to cause serious physical injury to another person, the actor causes such injury to such person or to a third person; or (2) with intent to cause physical injury to another person, the actor causes such injury to such person or to a third person by means of a deadly weapon or a dangerous instrument other than by means of the discharge of a firearm…
(b) Assault in the second degree is a class D felony or, if the offense resulted in serious physical injury, a class C felony.
In this case, a criminal defense attorney will be able to give advice on the potential penalties for a conviction of Assault in the Second Degree depending on the facts of the case.
POSSIBLE PUNISHMENT FOR FELONIES IN CONNECTICUT
Each class of felony in Connecticut has a different maximum penalty, including fines and jail time:
CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEYS FOR FELONIES IN CONNECTICUT
Given the severe punishment one may face if charged and convicted of a felony, it is important to speak to a Connecticut Criminal Defense attorney as soon as possible. At Aeton Law, we also represent those who are under investigation for felony charges pre-arrest. It is important to speak to your criminal attorney to better understand what your potential exposure to the crimes are and begin to prepare a solid defense to the charges.
In addition to the possible jail time and fines a person charged with a felony in Connecticut may face, there are many other consequences. These are often referred to “collateral consequences.” Some of the most serious collateral consequences are the loss of employment or future employment, loss of a professional license, or loss of public assistance. An experienced criminal defense attorney in Connecticut will be able to talk you through most of the potential consequences of being charged or convicted of felony. Often times, the penalties of being convicted of a felony extend well beyond jail.
POLICE INVESTIGATION ATTORNEYS IN CONNECTICUT
If you have been contacted by a member of a state or municipal police department in Connecticut regarding a felony investigation, then your next move can have an enormous impact on you and your family. Oftentimes, a person being investigation by the police can feel that simply explaining their side of story will be enough to end the investigation. However, America’s jails are full of innocent people who should have never given a statement to the police, or who were coerced into giving one. It is crucial to speak with a Connecticut criminal defense attorney if you are under investigation. Your criminal defense attorney can help you decide what to next.
If you have been charged with or are under investigation for a felony in Connecticut, then contact one Aeton Law’s criminal defense attorneys for a consultation.