Accusations of felony crimes can come with hefty consequences. Depending on the felony charges levied against you, you could be facing several years in state prison, fines, and, in the worst-case scenario, life imprisonment. An experienced defense attorney who’ll defend you aggressively is vital to avoid felony convictions.
At Jasti, Zehawi & Johnson, LLC, we’ve spent decades in the trenches of Wisconsin’s criminal justice system. We’ve seen it all, from drug charges to homicide cases. And we’ve learned what it takes to get results when our clients’ freedom is on the line.
A felony is any crime that can land you in state prison for more than a year. These aren’t minor infractions or misdemeanors for which imprisonment happens in county jails — we’re talking about the heaviest charges the law can throw at you.
Some of the types of felony crime charges we have defended against include:
The consequences go far beyond prison time. A felony conviction can strip away your right to vote, own firearms, or hold certain jobs. It can make it nearly impossible to find housing or get a loan. In addition, your relationships, reputation, and entire future trajectory can be turned upside down.
If you’re under 18, don’t assume you’re in the clear. Wisconsin law allows minors as young as 10 to be tried as adults for first-degree murder. Any 17-year-old charged with a felony automatically enters the adult system, where they can be subjected to fines or receive a confinement sentence.
The Wisconsin statutes classify felonies into 9 groups named after the Greek alphabet. Except in some exceptional cases, the state follows the following sentencing guidelines.
Class A felonies carry a maximum imprisonment term of life and no maximum fine. Examples of class A felonies include first-degree intentional homicide of another human, treason, causing another’s death through carjacking, or using a child to commit a class A felony.
Class B felonies carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 60 years. Examples of class B felonies include manslaughter, armed robbery, second-degree intentional homicide, first-degree sexual assault, arson, and solicitation of a child to commit a class A felony.
Class C felonies have a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years and a maximum fine of $100,000. Some examples of Class C felonies include first-degree reckless injury, aggravated battery, possession of explosives, contributing to another person’s death by obscuring rescue operations, and theft if the value of the stolen items exceeds $2,500.
Class D felonies carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 25 years and a maximum fine of $100,000. Examples of crimes classified as Class D felonies include assisting suicide, battery to law enforcement officers, jurors, and parole officers, hiding a corpse, third-degree sexual assault, and homicide caused by using a firearm while intoxicated.
The law suggests a maximum imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum fine of $50,000 for Class E felonies. Class E felonies include crimes like false imprisonment, disarming a peace officer, selling tear gas, selling a firearm silencer, and soliciting a child to be part of gang activities.
Class F felonies carry a maximum prison term of 12 years and a maximum fine of $25,000. Some examples of Class F felonies include receiving deposits fraudulently, selling and manufacturing alcohol without permits, pandering, sexual exploitation by a therapist, and a child sex offender working with children.
Class G felonies attract a maximum imprisonment period of 10 years and a maximum fine of $25,000. You can be charged with a Class G felony if you cause death by giving a minor alcohol, illegally using food stamps with a value of $5,000 and above, and manufacturing or distributing one gram or less of cocaine.
Class H felonies carry a maximum imprisonment term of six years and a maximum fine of $10,000. This class of felonies entails intentionally setting fire to another person’s land, soliciting or receiving bribes in connection with providing medical assistance, or soliciting or receiving kickbacks, rebates, or bribes for providing services or items under W-2.
Class I felonies carry a maximum imprisonment period of 3.5 years and a maximum fine of $10,000. Class I felonies include placing foreign objects in edibles, criminal violations of election statutes, creating graffiti on the property of a witness, and theft of trade secrets.
The felony class affects a court’s ruling. Note there’s no leniency for Class A convictions that attract the maximum imprisonment term. However, judges have some discretion in sentencing felony classes B through I, which have both allowable fines and imprisonment penalties. The accused can be sentenced to a fine, a prison term, or both.
Judges can also opt not to sentence offenders to the stipulated maximum imprisonment terms in all but Class A felonies.
Jail time aside, make no mistake — even the “lightest” felony conviction can derail your entire life. Beyond bars and fines, a felony on your record can mean:
A conviction for felony crimes can affect many aspects of your life and future, so you need to work with a seasoned felony crimes defense attorney.
At Jasti, Zehawi & Johnson, LLC, we’ve built our entire careers around protecting the rights of the accused. Regardless of the complexities in your case, we strive to provide effective legal strategies that give you your best chance in court.
Our approach is simple but powerful:
Years of experience and in-depth knowledge of criminal law and the Wisconsin justice system guide us in providing sound legal counsel for various felony crime charges.
The prosecutors are already building their case against you. Every day you wait to get a skilled attorney on your side is a day the odds tilt further out of your favor.
At Jasti, Zehawi & Johnson, LLC, we’ve seen how the right lawyer can be the difference between walking free and years behind bars, between keeping your life on track and watching it crumble around you.
We offer free consultations, even on weekends. You have nothing to lose by talking to us — and potentially everything to gain.
Don’t roll the dice on your future. Contact us now, and let’s start fighting to protect your rights, your freedom, and everything you’ve worked for.
