Criminal Defense: Felony Charges

Any type of criminal arrest is a dire matter for the suspect, but if you have been charged with a felony, your future may be at risk. A felony offense such as rape, burglary or robbery is considered by the state to be the most serious type of crime, and it carries the toughest penalties. The Law Office of John M. Cromwell may be able to help you avoid the long-lasting negative consequences of a conviction. I have been practicing as a White Plains criminal lawyer since 1988, and have successfully represented thousands of individuals on all types of crimes, from traffic tickets to murder, and I can meet with you today for a consultation in Spanish or English.

Categories of a Crime

Every criminal offense in our state is assigned to one of two categories. Misdemeanors are considered to be less serious, and they are punishable by up to a year in county jail, though a large percentage of defendants serve their sentence on probation. Felonies including major drug offenses and violent crimes carry a minimum sentence of one year in state prison, and up to a life sentence. Our state currently maintains the death penalty, though there has not been an execution since 1963. There are several classes of felony:

Class A - Life imprisonment
Class B - Up to 25 years in prison
Class C - Up to 15 years in prison
Class D - Up to 7 years in prison
Class E - Up to 4 years in prison

It is advisable to retain legal representation as early as possible. As many felony charges are filed after an investigation, you may be able to resolve the situation early by contacting me in the pre-arrest period. I want to help you avoid a future behind bars, and will do everything I can to clear your name, whether this involves aggressively confronting a prosecutor, a cop, a witness, or even a judge in a courtroom, or if it takes quiet negotiation to resolve your case favorably.