This is the next post in my series on the handling of Arkansas felony charges. My last article discussed the consequences of a Class “B” felony. Defendants must understand that such charges carry a possible sentence of five to twenty years in prison. This is in addition to fines, and other burdens that flow from a conviction. These burdens can include being saddled with a permanent criminal record, being unable to find a job, and having difficulty gaining approval for housing. The first step in possibly avoiding these consequences is to hire an experienced attorney to assist you. In this article I will be discussing what to expect if you have been charged with a Class “C” felony. If you require assistance then contact my office today to speak with a Little Rock criminal defense lawyer.
Arkansas Class “C” felonies carry a sentence of three to ten years in prison
Class “C” felony charges can result in three to ten years in prison under the Arkansas criminal code. A defendant can also receive fines of up to $10,000. If convicted, the defendant may also face additional times if other counts were stacked on top of the Class C felony and the time for those counts is run consecutively to the felony charge. An example of this would be a defendant who is convicted of aggravated assault, a Class “D” charge, for facts that were part of the same transaction as the Class “C” charge. If the Judge requires that time run consecutively, then a defendant will have to serve all of the time for one charge before time begins to run for the second charge. Also, a defendant will have a permanent felony record. This will disqualify them from owning a gun and will make it more difficult for them to pass a background check.
Examples of Class “C” felonies can include commercial burglary, theft charges, certain types of drug possession, and more. Many of the types of conduct that fall within this class of charge are often associated with other crimes. Vandalism, for example, is a Class “C” charge. Vandalism will also often be brought in conjunction with charges for trespassing and/or burglary. How to defend against any given combination of charges will depend on the specific facts of the case. Given that no two cases are the same, it is important that you seek qualified counsel.
Contact a Little Rock criminal defense lawyer if you have been arrested
If you have been arrested then it is important that you speak with an attorney as soon as possible. The sooner you speak with counsel, then the sooner they can commence work on your case. This will include their conducting of an investigation, the requesting of discovery from the prosecution, the filing of pretrial Motions, etc. I am a Little Rock criminal defense lawyer who believes that everyone is entitled to aggressive representation and respect. Contact my office online or by telephone to schedule an initial consultation. We also handle matters in Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Springdale, Jonesboro, North Little Rock, Conway, Rogers, Pine Bluff, and throughout the rest of Arkansas.