Felonies

In North Carolina, crimes are separated into felonies and misdemeanors, depending on the severity of the offense. Felony offenses are further divided from Class A (murder) through Class I (low-level felony offenses like possession of felony amounts of drugs.) Larger amounts of felony drug possession may be charged as Trafficking, and those offenses are treated differently and carry higher punishments than other felony charges. Lower-level felony case might be resolved in District Court, while higher-level felonies will be indicted to Superior Court. How your case is disposed matters greatly. You may be offered a plea to a lesser offense. Some lower-level felony offenses may be eligible for diversion programs offered by the District Attorney’s office, such as First Offender or the 90-96 program for drug offenses. If you were to be convicted of a felony, there are a wide range of possible consequences, from possible probation for lower-level offenses, to split sentences (part jail time/part probation), and prison sentences, depending on the classification of the offense and your prior record level. Even if you serve an active sentence for a felony, you will be required to complete a period of Post-Release Supervision (9 months for low-level felonies, 12 months for higher-level felonies, and 60 months PRS for certain sex offenses). If you receive an offer that you’re not willing to take, for any number of reasons, your case may need to set for a jury trial in front of 12 of your peers. You need a lawyer who is a capable and effective trial lawyer, and who will advocate zealously for your rights, not just an attorney who pleads everybody.

A felony conviction will also impact other civil rights like prohibiting possession of firearms, limitations on your ability to gain certain types of employment, or your ability to vote and serve on a jury. Our firm handles all classifications of felonies in North Carolina courts, such as drug possession and Possession with Intent to Sell/Deliver Controlled Substances, Maintaining a Dwelling, Obtaining Property by False Pretense, Embezzlement, Breaking & Entering, aggravated assaults, sex offenses, drug trafficking and murder. Typically, we will travel to counties within a 2-hour radius of our office in Cary, NC. Counties we regularly appear in for court include Wake, Chatham, Orange, Durham, Johnston, Harnett, Lee, Alamance, and Guilford. If you are charged with a felony offense in North Carolina, you need a competent and qualified trial attorney to handle your case, and to guide you through what can be a very lengthy process.