Under the Louisiana criminal code, a felony is a crime that has a potential sentence of more than one year in prison, and the accused has the right to a trial by judge or jury. When the accused elects to be tried by jury in a felony case, the number of jurors who will determine guilt or innocence of the accused is dictated by the potential sentence. If the crime is punishable “with or without hard labor,” then six jurors will hear the case. When the crime is necessarily punishable “at hard labor,” twelve jurors will hear the case. The jury must always be unanimous to render a legal verdict. Felonies are generally the most serious crimes, such as crimes of violence or those crimes which threaten relatively high amounts of financial damage or harm to property. Yet, most drug charges, except for possession of marijuana-first offense and possession of drug paraphernalia, are classified as felonies under Louisiana law.
Without even mentioning the stigma of being a “convicted felon,” a felony conviction can have numerous devastating consequences on your life. For example, upon a felony conviction, the offender immediately loses of the right to vote as well his or her eligibility for elected office. The offender could additionally lose his or her professional license and the right to possess firearms. The offender will also unquestionably have great difficulty in acquiring and maintaining employment.
However, with timely intervention, negotiation, and preparation by an experienced criminal defense lawyer, you may be able to avoid a felony conviction on your record. If a felony conviction cannot be avoided, an attorney may nonetheless be able to obtain a suspended sentence where you are placed on probation, instead of being thrown in jail. A knowledgeable lawyer may additionally be able to get you back to where you were before your felony case began once you have successfully completed your probation.
In many felony cases where the person is convicted for the first time, the defendant may be allowed to enter what is commonly referred to as an “Article 893 Plea.” When a conviction is entered under Article 893 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the court defers the imposition of sentence and places the defendant on probation. Thereafter, if the defendant successfully completes his or her probation, the defendant may have the court set aside the conviction and dismiss the prosecution. This dismissal of the prosecution has the same legal effect as acquittal, and, in turn, the defendant can have the entire matter (i.e.- the arrest and the subsequent prosecution) expunged from his or her record.
The Louisiana criminal justice system is very complex; and, the stakes are extremely high in felony cases. Consequently, it is imperative to have effective representation at all stages of a felony proceeding. Stephen Hébert knows the intricacies of the legal system and has years of experience as a former prosecutor and criminal defense lawyer. While utilizing this experience, Stephen Hébert will strive to minimize the effects of the felony accusation on your life and will guide you through this emotional and legal maze from start to finish.
If you, or someone you know, are facing felony charges, contact us today to schedule a free consultation to begin to process of retaining Stephen D. Hébert, LLC - Attorney at Law!
Felony Defense Resources
- Article 890.1 of the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure - Waiver of Minimum Mandatory Sentences; Procedure; Exceptions
- Article 890.3 of the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure- Sentencing for Crimes of Violence
- Article 893 of the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure - Suspension and Deferral of Sentence and Probation in Felony Cases
- The Drug Court Division Probation Program - R.S. 13:5304
- Habitual Offender Law - Sentences for Second and Subsequent Offenses - R.S. 15:529.1
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