Charleston Felonies Defense Attorney
If you or someone you care about is facing a felony charge, it’s a serious matter that can lead to consequences that are difficult to overcome. Bringing your strongest defense in the face of a felony charge is key, and an experienced Charleston criminal defense attorney is standing by to help.
Felony Charges
Felony charges are the most serious category of criminal charge in South Carolina, and a conviction generally means spending at least one year in prison. Felony charges range from Class A to Class F, and they break down in the following ways:
- Class F Felonies – A Class F felony carries a maximum prison sentence of 5 years and fines of up to $25,000. Common examples include aiming a firearm at someone, failing to register as a sex offender, voter fraud, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
- Class E Felonies – A Class E felony carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and fines of up to $50,000. Common examples include burglary, robbery, resisting arrest with a deadly weapon, first-degree assault and battery, and bribing a public official.
- Class D Felonies – A Class D felony carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years and fines of up to $100,000. Common examples include solicitation of a child, child enticement, third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult resulting in great bodily injury and repeat stalking.
- Class C Felonies – A Class C felony carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and fines of up to $100,000. Common examples include kidnapping, arson, aggravated assault and battery, second-degree criminal sexual conduct, and grand larceny.
- Class B Felonies – A Class B felony carries a maximum prison sentence of 25 years and fines of up to $100,000. Common examples include certain drug trafficking charges and causing an explosion by means of a destructive device.
- Class A Felonies – A Class A felony carries a prison sentence of up to 30 years and fines of up to $100,000. Common examples include voluntary manslaughter, carjacking resulting in great bodily injury, and conspiracy to commit kidnapping.
Exempt and Non-Specified Felony Charges
In South Carolina, there are also charges that don’t fall into any of these groups, which are identified as either exempt or non-specified. An example of an exempt felony is murder, which can lead to a life sentence. The only charge that rises to the level of a death sentence in the state is aggravated murder.
Non-specified felony charges, on the other hand, don’t impose penalty guidelines other than identifying the crimes involved as felonies. The default sentence for these charges ranges from 3 months to 10 years behind bars.
Turn to an Experienced Charleston Criminal Defense Attorney for the Help You Need
Robert Wyndham at Wyndham Law Firm in Charleston is a practiced criminal defense attorney who will leave no stone unturned in his focused efforts to resolve your case as favorably as possible – in protection of your rights and in support of your future. Learn more by contacting us online or calling 843-279-5312 today.