Felony and Misdemeanor Offenses in Henrico County
In Henrico County there are typically two types of criminal offenses you can be charged with: misdemeanors and felonies. Below, a Henrico County criminal defense lawyer discusses the difference between these two types of crimes and the penalties you may face for each. To discuss which type of crime you may be facing, call and schedule a consultation today.
Differences Between Henrico County Felonies and Misdemeanors
The biggest difference between felonies and misdemeanors in Henrico County is the punishment. With a misdemeanor charge, there is a maximum of 12 months in jail, up to a $2,500 fine and, in some cases, a license suspension. With a felony charge penalties can range anywhere from a few months or a few years to life in jail, and fines that are much more serious. In addition to that, with a felony charge, if you’re to be convicted, you lose your right to vote, and your right to possess a firearm. There is a vast difference in how these charges are treated.
Penalties For Misdemeanors and Felonies
For misdemeanor charges in Henrico, the penalties can range anywhere up to 12 months in jail, up to a $2,500 fine, and in some cases up to a 12-month loss of license.
With felony cases in Henrico, the punishments can be extremely broad. The punishments can be anywhere from a few months in jail to a few years to even possibly life in prison depending on the charge. There are also obviously license suspension possibilities on felony charges and significant fines on felony cases in Henrico County.
What Happens If You Can’t Pay Your Fine?
If your penalty is a fine and you can’t pay it, the court can and does suspend your driver’s license and your privilege to drive. If you cannot immediately pay your fines and costs we recommend individuals contact the court and to try and enter into a payment plan. For the most part the courts will enter into payment plans with individuals that can extend anywhere from six months to a year. They’ll usually require a down payment and there’s a small fee applied to getting a payment plan, however this is always a better option than risking suspension of your driver’s license.
Top Three Things To Do After Being Charged With a Felony
The top three things a person can do after being charged with a crime in Henrico is number one, to speak with and retain local counsel. You’re going to want an attorney who understands the policies and procedures of Henrico, who knows the judges and prosecutors, and who knows how they treat the particular crime.
Secondly, you’re going to want to speak with your attorney to be educated as to your particular charge to have a full understanding of what questions you may face and what likely outcomes you may be dealing with. Finally, you‘re going to want to follow the directions of your attorney in preparing for the case. In many cases, your attorney is going to recommend that you take mitigating factors to deal with the case. This can involve drug counseling, this can involve letters of reference, but all of these things can be extremely valuable for your attorney in handling the case.
