Felony charges in Denton hold serious weight. Typically more serious than the average misdemeanor, being convicted of a felony can create a permanent stain on your criminal record that may haunt you in the future. Felons all across the United States of America face additional life challenges after their convictions.
Prison sentences and court costs are not the only consequences of being convicted of a felony in Denton. In many cases, you may be forced out of your profession, lose the ability to run for public office, and deal with social stigmas that come along with being convicted of a crime of this degree. As a result, you’ll need a Denton felony lawyer on your side to help you throughout this process.
Felony Charges Defense Lawyer in Denton, Frisco, Lewisville, Flower Mound, TX
Felony charges cannot be taken lightly if you expect to retain your freedom and good legal standing. While these charges are typically serious in nature, they don’t always have to result in convictions for defendants. By hiring an experienced felony lawyer in Denton, you’ll be able to create a strong defense for yourself.
If you’ve been charged for a felony or you believe you may be under investigation, time is of the essence. The Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy can help you take control of your case and build a defense that will withstand heavy attacks from prosecutors. Contact our law office today at (940) 222-8004 for more information as well as a free consultation from an in-house legal expert.
Examples of Felony Offenses in Denton
There are countless felony offenses that can be committed. However, some of the most common in Denton are:
- Felony DWI
- Felony Marijuana Possession
- Intoxication Manslaughter
- Aggravated Assault
- White Collar Crimes
First-degree felonies may include:
- Murder
- Aggravated sexual assault
- Aggravated assault of public servant
- Causing serious bodily injury to child, senior citizen, or disabled person
- Aggravated kidnapping
- Solicitation of capital murder
- Aggravated robbery
- Escape from custody (if serious bodily injury occurs)
- Attempted capital murder
- Trafficking of persons under the age of 14
- Arson of habitation
- Burglary of a habitation with intent to commit or commission of a felony
Second-degree felonies may include:
- Possession of 50 to 2,000 pounds of marijuana
- Arson
- Robbery
- Manslaughter
- Sexual assault
- Aggravated assault
- Online solicitation of a minor under 14
- Bigamy
- Intoxication manslaughter
- Trafficking of persons
- Bribery
- Evading arrest (and death of another occurs)
- Improper relationship between educator and student
- Indecent contact with a child
- Stalking—second offense
Third-degree felonies may include:
- Stalking
- Intoxication assault
- DWI (third offense)
- Violation of protective order (third offense)
- Aggravated perjury
- Indecent exposure to a child
- Possession of a firearm by a felon
- Retaliation
- Bail jumping of a felony arrest
- Deadly conduct with a firearm
- Escape from felony custody
- Tampering with evidence
State jail felonies may include:
- DWI with child passenger
- Credit card abuse
- Interference of child custody
- Possession of less than one gram of a controlled substance
- Forgery of a check
- Theft of something valued between $1,500 and $20,000
- Burglary of a building
- Unauthorized use of a vehicle
- Cruelty to animals
- False alarm or report
- White collar fraud getting a hard money loan
- Coercing a minor to join a gang by threatening violence
- Fraudulent use or possession of identifying information
- Criminally negligent homicide
- Evading arrest in a vehicle
- Criminal nonsupport
- Improper photography or visual recording
Types of Felonies in Denton
In the state of Texas, a felony is defined as a criminal offense that is punishable by over a year of jail time. While this should help you differentiate it from a misdemeanor, you should also be aware of the multiple types of felony classifications.
According to Texas Penal Code § 12.04, these are the following five classifications for felony offenses in Texas:
- State Jail Felony
- Felony of the Third Degree
- Felony of the Second Degree
- Felony of the First Degree
- Felony Drug Possession
- Capital Felony
Denton Penalties for Felony Offenses
According to Texas Penal Code Section § 12.35, an individual that is convicted of a state jail felony can face a jail sentence that will range from 180 days to two years, in addition to a fine that must not exceed $10,000. A state jail felony is considered to be a hybrid between a misdemeanor and a felony case, seeing as the convicted defendant will be sentenced to jail time, and not federal prison.
Texas Penal Code § 12.34 states that an individual who is convicted of a felony of the third degree is subject to 2-10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000, while § 12.33 states that the penalty of a second-degree felony is 2-20 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $10,000.
First-degree felonies and capital felonies will carry much harsher consequences. Individuals who are convicted of a felony of the first degree will be subject to five to ninety-nine years in federal prison alongside a fine of up to $10,000, according to Tex. Penal Code Section 12.32. Those convicted of capital felonies can face life in prison (with no parole) or the death penalty.
Denton Habitual and Repeat Felony Offenders
Individuals who are habitually and repeatedly committing felony offenses may face much more strict punishments if they are convicted of an additional felony. According to the Texas Penal Code Section 12.42, repeat and habitual felony offenders (anyone who has previously been convicted of one or more felony offenses) are subject to additional penalties, fines, and consequences.
For example, if you are charged with a state jail felony offense, but you have previously been convicted of repeated state felony offenses, your charges and convictions will be upgraded to a third-degree felony, resulting in 2-10 years in prison alongside a fine not to exceed $10,000.
The same logic applies to the other types of felonies as well. If an individual is charged with a second-degree felony but they have already developed a reputation and record of repeat felony offenses, their conviction will be upgraded to a first-degree felony, punishable by 5-99 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
Resources for Felony Charges in Denton
Denton County District Court – The Denton County District Court is a court of general jurisdiction in Denton County, Texas. The court has jurisdiction over a wide range of cases, including criminal, civil, and family law matters. The current judge of the Denton County District Court is Judge David Trantham. Judge Trantham was elected to the court in 2018 and began his term in January 2019. He is a graduate of Texas Tech University and the University of Texas School of Law. The Denton County District Court website provides information on a variety of topics, including the court’s schedules, including the hours of operation and the dates of upcoming hearings. The website provides access to case information, including the status of cases and the docket sheets for upcoming hearings. The website provides contact information for the court, including the address and phone number of the main office. The Denton County District Court website is a valuable resource for anyone who is involved in a case in the court or who needs to contact the court for any reason. The Denton County District Court is located at:
Denton County District Court
1450 E. McKinney St.
Denton, TX 76209
Texas Convictions Database – The Texas Convictions Database is a searchable database of criminal convictions in the state of Texas. The database is maintained by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and includes information on convictions dating back to 1989. The Texas Convictions Database can be used to search for information on a specific person’s criminal history. The search results will include information on the person’s name, date of birth, county of conviction, and the offense(s) for which they were convicted. The Texas Convictions Database is a valuable resource for employers, landlords, and other individuals who need to conduct background checks on potential employees or tenants. The database can also be used by individuals to research their own criminal history. The Texas Convictions Database is accessible online at the DPS website. To search the database, you will need to provide the person’s name and date of birth. You can also search by county of conviction or offense. The Texas Convictions Database is a public record, but there are some restrictions on who can access it. For example, only law enforcement agencies can access the database to conduct criminal investigations.
Inventory of Texas Felony Offenses by Category — This table provides information on offenses in Texas statutory law that are classified as felonies. The offenses included are either expressly classified as felonies in statute or have been identified by Texas Legislative Council staff as felonies because an offense’s punishment involves imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). The table includes the following information for each offense: The statute citation for the offense; A brief description of the offense; The felony category of the offense; A link to the referenced statute section. The table is intended for informational purposes only. The standard punishments for capital, first degree, second degree, third degree, and state jail felonies are set out in Sections 12.31, 12.32, 12.33, 12.34, and 12.35 of the Texas Penal Code. The standard punishments for Parks and Wildlife Code felonies and Parks and Wildlife Code state jail felonies are set out in Sections 12.407 and 12.4061 of the Parks and Wildlife Code. The table includes entries for offenses whose classification has been enhanced to a felony category. Offenses for which only the punishment, and not the felony category, has been enhanced are omitted and are not considered felonies for purposes of this publication. Although a number of the offenses listed may also be classified as misdemeanors, the table addresses only the felonies. Most felony offenses are assigned one of the standard felony categories. However, many of the offenses included in the table span multiple felony categories based on factors of the offense (e.g., a certain amount of money or controlled substance is involved or the offense is a subsequent offense). If an offense spans multiple categories, each felony category relevant to the offense has a separate entry in the table. If an offense potentially spans multiple felony categories without specification of the offense category, the felony category is listed as “Other”. In instances where a felony offense is not categorized as a standard felony, the felony category is listed as “Uncategorized” and a description of the punishment is provided in the “Punishment (nonstandard)” column. In instances where a statute section provides a standard felony category but specifies a nonstandard punishment, a description of the punishment is likewise provided. Effective April 1, 2019, state law was amended to create a new felony category, “aggravated state jail felony”. This category is used for offenses that were previously classified as third degree felonies but that have been enhanced due to certain factors, such as the use of a deadly weapon. The table is updated periodically to reflect changes in Texas law.
Find A Denton County Defense Attorney for Felony Charges | Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy
Your felony charges may seem daunting, but like any other charge, it does not have to result in a conviction. If you’re worried about your current charges or you believe you may be under investigation for a felony offense, The Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy can help. Richard McConathy and his expert legal team have a proven track record of fighting felony charges in Denton, and we understand what it takes to help our clients reach favorable outcomes. If you feel as though your felony charge needs some assistance and you’re located in our area, call (940) 222-8004 or contact us online today. Serving Denton, Little Elm, Flower Mound, and the many other surrounding areas of our county, we’re ready to help you with your legal problems.