Criminal felony charges have the potential to change your life for the worse. You need an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side to beat the charge and minimize or even escape penalty. The quality of your criminal defense attorney really does have the potential to dictate your fate. Our legal team has successfully defended cases on behalf of those charged with crimes in Idaho. Our goal is to safeguard your rights, clear your name, and get your life back on track
Sawtooth defense attorneys are here to defend your rights in Idaho. Reach out to us today at (208) 644-8893 to find out more about our legal services and obtain a no-obligation review of your case.
An Explanation of Felonies
If you violate the law in Idaho, you will likely be charged with either a felony or a misdemeanor. Felonies are comparably serious, meaning they carry heftier penalties. It is quite possible you will face fines in the range of several thousand dollars or an extended prison stay should you be found guilty of a felony. Examples of felony offenses include but are not limited to assault, rape, and arson.
Felonies are broken down into five classes:
- Capital Offense
- Fourth Degree
- Third Degree
- Second Degree
- First Degree
The felony class is also categorized as is determined by the crime’s severity. Therefore, each degree carries its own unique level of punishment.
If you face a First Degree felony, you are the individual suspected of committing the crime.
If you face a Second Degree felony in Idaho, you are suspected of assisting with the crime or helping someone who committed the crime.
With a Third Degree felony the individual charged is suspected to have known about the criminal act prior to its occurrence or assisted in planning the crime.
And in a Fourth Degree felony, the individual is charged with helping the criminal hide the crime.
Felony Penalties
Many felonious actions result in mandatory jail time. Certain felonies are punished with a fine as opposed to a prison sentence. If the law defines the act in question as a felony yet there is no designated penalty, the crime will be punishable by upwards of half a decade in state prison and/or a fine upwards of $50,000. The judge will establish the amount of time spent in prison prior to eligibility for parole. The judge might also establish an indeterminate sentence beyond this minimum, meaning a period of time that does not extend beyond the legal maximum for the crime in question. Parole is a possibility during this period of time.
If the act caused financial loss, the judge might force you to pay restitution along with a civil fine. However, Idaho does not group-specific felonies into unique classes for sentencing purposes. Felonies have specific maximum sentences based on the crime in question.
As an example, if you are found guilty of robbery in Idaho, you will face a mandatory minimum of five years in prison with the potential for life in prison. Aggravated battery has the potential to result in 15 years in prison. Theft of property worth in excess of a thousand dollars has the potential to spur a penalty of 1-14 years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine.
Call the Best Lawyers for Felony Charges Boise, Idaho has to Offer
Felonies are serious charges that require a carefully crafted legal defense from our felony criminal attorneys. The Sawtooth Defense Attorneys have more than a century of of collective criminal law experience. Let us review your case, develop a strategic defense, and fiercely advocate for justice on your behalf. Reach out to us today at (208) 644-8893 to coordinate a confidential no-cost consultation.
