Felony Defense Lawyers in Monroe, LA

In Louisiana, crimes are generally classified into two categories: felonies and misdemeanors. Prosecutors often have the discretion to decide between charging a defendant with a misdemeanor or a felony on a case-by-case basis rather than there being a hard and fast legal rule. That level of discretion is scary: A felony conviction can easily derail your life. Felony convictions carry heavy fines and prison sentences and can have long-term collateral consequences on your ability to get a job or a professional license, your ability to live in certain areas, your immigration status, and other areas of your life. If you’ve been arrested or charged with a felony, or if you are under investigation for a serious crime in Louisiana, you need to call a zealous criminal defense lawyer immediately.

Whiddon Criminal Defense is ready to bring his years of experience to bear in protecting your rights and your freedom. Our seasoned felony defense legal team will handle all aspects of your criminal case, from getting you out on bail to building a strong defense, negotiating a favorable plea deal, undermining the prosecution’s case, and fighting your case all the way through trial if necessary. We make sure that you do not become the victim of overly aggressive police and prosecutors. Call Whiddon Criminal Defense today to start fighting for your future.

What is a Felony?

Felonies are the most serious offenses in Louisiana. Felony crimes often involve serious injury to victims, death, or expensive property loss. In Louisiana, felonies are not broken up by category or sub-classes. Instead, a felony in Louisiana is defined as any crime for which a defendant can be sentenced to more than one year in jail. Many felonies, of course, are punishable by a lot more than one year in jail.

Get Trusted Criminal Defense for All Types of Felony Charges

At Whiddon Criminal Defense, our passionate felony defense legal team represents defendants in Monroe charged with a wide range of felonies. Reach out for advice and representation as soon as possible for help defending against all manner of Louisiana felony charges, including the following:

Violent Felonies. Violent felonies are crimes that involve the use of force or threat of force against another person. Violent felonies often carry very severe penalties, especially when the alleged victim suffered serious injury or worse. Violent felonies include charges such as murder, arson, kidnapping, battery of a police officer, and animal cruelty.

Drug Crimes. Trafficking in controlled substances is taken very seriously in Louisiana. While simple possession is typically treated as a misdemeanor, trafficking, distributing, cultivating, or manufacturing controlled substances with the intent to sell may be charged as felonies.

Theft Crimes. Theft crimes are those that involve depriving someone else of their property. Theft crimes may be chargeable as felonies even where no violence was committed, depending on the nature of the property allegedly stolen, the value of the property, the nature of the defendant, and the means allegedly used to take the property. Theft crimes punishable as felonies include grand larceny, tax evasion, money laundering, and fraud, among others.

Sex Crimes. Sex crimes are crimes that involve some form of unwanted or unlawful sexual contact, such as sexual assault, rape, or child sex trafficking. A sex crime conviction threatens your life, liberty, and reputation. Our compassionate felony defense lawyer is ready to advise you on your options to minimize any damage to you and your family’s future as a result of a sex crime case.

Punishments for Felony Crimes in Louisiana

The penalties for felonies in Louisiana can be extremely severe. The more serious, violent felonies are punishable by years or decades in prison. For the most serious offenses, Louisiana still carries the death penalty. Even non-capital crimes and non-capital punishments can carry significant, life-altering penalties. On top of heavy fines and long prison sentences, having a felony conviction on your record can lead to employers rejecting your job applications, schools and professional organizations denying you entry, banks refusing you loans and credit cards, and deportation for non-citizens. A conviction for a sex crime can lead to a lifetime registry as a sex offender.

If you are under investigation for a felony in Monroe or if you’ve already been arrested or charged, it’s imperative to retain a seasoned felony defense lawyer as quickly as you can. The dedicated criminal defense attorney at Whiddon Criminal Defense can walk you through your options, gather witness statements and other evidence to build an effective defense, negotiate with the prosecutor to work out a plea to reduce charges, and take your case all the way through trial and beyond where necessary.

Call the Felony Defense Lawyer at Whiddon Criminal Defense for Trusted Advice and Talented Representation for Your Monroe Felony Charges

If you’ve been arrested or charged with a felony in northern Louisiana, you need a knowledgeable and zealous felony defense lawyer on your team as quickly as possible. The consequences of a felony conviction in Louisiana can permanently derail your life. We’re here to help. The felony defense team at the Monroe offices of Whiddon Criminal Defense is ready to help you fight for your rights, your freedom, and your future. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.