Birmingham Felony Defense Attorneys
Arrested for a Felony in Birmingham, AL?
If you have been arrested for a felony, you need the help of an experienced criminal defense attorney. Felony charges are the most serious charges that can be brought against an individual, and they carry the most severe penalties. Even if you have never been in trouble before, you may be facing prison time if you are convicted of a felony. If you are facing felony charges, it is imperative that you retain an attorney as soon as possible. Felony charges require swift action and attention, and the sooner you get a criminal defense attorney involved, the better your chances of avoiding a conviction.
At Jaffe, Hanle, Whisonant & Knight, P.C., our Birmingham felony defense attorneys have the experience and skill necessary to help you avoid conviction. We can work tirelessly to build a strong defense on your behalf, and we will pursue all possible avenues to help you avoid a conviction. We can investigate the evidence against you and find any possible weaknesses that may exist. We can also fight for your rights and help protect you from the overreaching powers of the state.
Schedule a free consultation with our Birmingham felony defense attorneys by contacting us at (205) 900-7714.
What Are Felonies in Alabama?
The state of Alabama classifies crimes as either misdemeanors or felonies. Misdemeanors are the less serious crimes, and felonies are the most serious crimes.
Alabama also divides felonies into classes. The classification system ranges from Class A to Class D, with Class A being the most severe and Class D being the least severe. The penalties for each class of felony can vary depending on the specific offense and the circumstances surrounding it.
Here is a general overview of the felony classes and penalties in Alabama:
Class A Felony:
- Examples: Murder, rape, kidnapping, and certain drug trafficking offenses
- Penalty: Punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than 10 years up to life imprisonment or death. The death penalty is a possible punishment for capital murder cases
Class B Felony:
- Examples: Manslaughter, certain drug trafficking offenses, and certain sexual offenses.
- Penalty: Punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than 2 years up to 20 years
Class C Felony:
- Examples: Assault in the first degree, certain theft offenses, and burglary
- Penalty: Punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than 1 year and 1 day up to 10 years
Class D Felony:
- Examples: Possession of a controlled substance, forgery, theft of property
- Penalty: Punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than 1 year and 1 day up to 5 years
Other Possible Penalties:
- Loss of voting rights
- Loss of professional licenses
- Loss of gun ownership rights
- Loss of child custody rights
- Loss of federal student aid
- Loss of housing assistance
- Loss of food stamps
What Are the Defenses to Felonies?
Felonies are serious charges that carry the possibility of prison time and steep fines. However, there are some defenses that can be raised against felony charges. If the police did not follow proper procedure when gathering evidence, you may be able to have your charges dropped or reduced. If you did not commit the crime, you need to raise a defense of innocence. Some other defenses that can be raised against felony charges include:
- Lack of intent
- Self-defense
- False accusations
- False evidence
- Mental health defenses
- Medical necessity
- Statutory defenses
Contact Our Felony Defense Attorneys
If you are facing felony charges, do not wait to contact our felony defense attorneys. We can work with you to build a strong defense on your behalf. We can investigate the evidence against you and find any weaknesses in the prosecution's case. We can also fight for your rights and help protect you from the overreaching powers of the state.
Get started by contacting our firm for a free consultation by calling (205) 900-7714.
Client Successes
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Potential Reckless Murder
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Death Penalty
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Murder
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White-Collar Crime & Elder Financial Abuse
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Distribution of a Controlled Substance
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Meet the Team
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Richard and Michael saved me from dealing with the confusing government bureaucracy.
“I was part of a multi-year investigation by the US Government. To say that the bureaucracy and charges were intimidating would be an understatement. Luckily, I was referred to Richard and his team and they jumped right on the case. The final results were b”
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I sincerely thank them for how they handled my case, and I highly recommend this firm.
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I sincerely thank them for how they handled my case, and I highly recommend this firm.
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Mike Hanle exceeded our expectations and we more than grateful!
“Mike Hanle did an outstanding job and obtained an excellent result on our case in a very difficult venue. mike DILIGENTLY worked all angles of our case to achieve the best outcome! we would highly recommend Mike and his firm for anyone who is in need of legal representation! we cannot thank Mike enough for his hard work and professionalism. Great job!!”