Felony Charges - Smerlinski Law Office S.C., Madison, WI

It is critical that anyone who is charged with a felony offense consult a criminal defense attorney before attending any scheduled initial appearance or hearing. A failure to be represented initially by an experienced criminal defense attorney could lead to loss of freedom if bond conditions are not handled properly. Defending against felony charges normally requires time to conduct independent investigation in order to obtain an understanding of the facts at play. At Smerlinski Law Office S.C. we have the experience and expertise to handle felony case of all types. For more than 30 years we have helped clients facing felony charges receive acquittals. Every case is different.

Contact us today for a free consultation with an attorney.

Felony Penalties

A conviction for a felony offense will definitely create a felony record for an individual. If convicted of a felony, you can expect:

the permanent loss of the right to own or possess firearms
loss of the right to vote until such time the individual’s civil rights are restored
loss of the right to possess or carry body armor in some felony cases

If the individual who is convicted of a felony is not a United States citizen, the penalty could result in deportation, exclusion of admission into the United States in the future, or the denial of naturalization under federal law.

Felony Types

A criminal felony under Wisconsin statutes is defined as a crime that is punishable for more than one year of incarceration in the Wisconsin State Prison System. Felony offenses in the State of Wisconsin range in severity from Class A to Class I. Class A felonies are the most serious, while class I felonies are the less serious offenses.

Penalties for felonies are as follows:

For a Class A felony, life imprisonment
For a Class B felony, imprisonment up to 60 years
For a Class C felony, a fine up to $100,000 or imprisonment up to 40 years, or both
For a Class D felony, a fine up to $100,000 or imprisonment up to 25 years, or both
For a Class E felony, a fine up to $50,000 or imprisonment up to 15 years, or both
For a Class F felony, a fine up to $25,000 or imprisonment up to 12 years and 6 months, or both
For a Class G felony, a fine up to $25,000 or imprisonment up to 10 years, or both
For a Class H felony, a fine up to $10,000 or imprisonment up to 6 years, or both
For a Class I felony, a fine up to $10,000 or imprisonment up to 3 years and 6 months, or both

When an individual faces criminal felony charges, the last thing that individual should do is talk to law enforcement before speaking with defense counsel. There exists automatic Fifth Amendment rights that allow anyone charged with a felony to remain silent. Given the nature of the potential penalties for a felony conviction, individuals should always exercise this right before talking to law enforcement.

At Smerlinski Law Office, we have over 24 years of experience as a state and federal criminal defense firm. This experience will allow us to help you get the best results possible when faced with even the most serious felony offenses.

Homicide

These types of cases have the potential for the most severe penalties under Wisconsin law. Class A homicide charges carry an automatic penalty of life in prison. At present, Wisconsin does not carry the death penalty for any class of homicide charges. Homicide cases require not only a large financial commitment to pursue but also demand quite often expert resources to prove defense themes and factual predicates at trial. Murder cases are quite often emotionally charged and dictate that counsel be experienced in court to effectively defend.