Serious Felonies

Serious Felony Cases in Fairfield and New Haven County

Felony charges carry the potential for severe penalties that can include hefty fines and a lengthy prison sentence, sometimes for life. You also face significant collateral consequences, such as the loss of fundamental civil rights, difficulty finding housing or suitable employment, and experiencing significant social stigma.

Located in Fairfield, Connecticut, our serious felony attorney team at The Lebedevitch Law Firm, LLC defends people accused of serious felonies in state and federal courts throughout the state. Criminal defense attorney Stephen Lebedevitch has extensive knowledge of the criminal legal system and staunchly defends people accused of the most serious felony crimes, including:

• Murder and Manslaughter
• Assault and Battery
• Rape
• Sexual Assault
• Kidnapping
• Child Sex Crimes and Abuse
• Robbery
• Arson
• Felony Drug Crimes
• Other Violent Felony Charges

If you are facing felony charges, know that the State of Connecticut will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. In an effort to increase the likelihood of a conviction, improve their conviction rate, and achieve enhanced punishments and longer sentences, state and federal prosecutors commonly overcharge people suspected of felonies. To protect yourself, your rights, and your future, you need a tenacious and experienced serious felony attorney on your side. You need The Lebedevitch Law Firm.

Punishments for a Connecticut Felony Conviction

The State of Connecticut divides felony crimes into six classes based on the severity of the offense.

• Capital Felonies. Connecticut abolished the death penalty in April of 2012. Today, a conviction for murder with special circumstances carries a sentence of life in person without the possibility of parole.
• Class A Felony. A conviction for a Class A felony is punishable by 25 to 60 years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000.
• Class B Felony. Class B felonies, which include crimes such as first-degree arson, first-degree kidnapping, sexual assault involving a young victim, and aggravated sexual assault of a victim under age 16, are punishable by 10 to 25 years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000.
• Class C Felony. A Class C felony carries a punishment of one to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Class C felonies include crimes such as second-degree manslaughter, second-degree robbery, second-degree sexual assault, and third-degree arson.
• Class D Felony. A Class D felony is punishable by one to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. Examples of Class D felonies include first-degree criminal mischief, first-degree stalking, second-degree assault, and third-degree sexual assault.
• Unclassified felonies. If a felony is unclassified, the statute will specify the punishment.

Collateral Consequences of a Felony Conviction

In addition to significant fines and a lengthy prison sentence, conviction for a serious felony offense often carries collateral consequences such as the loss of gun rights, loss of the right to vote, and loss of the right to serve on a jury or in elected office. You also face significant social stigma if you are convicted or even accused of a felony crime.

In addition, you could lose your driver’s license, experience difficulty finding employment, and face limitations on where you can live. If you are an immigrant charged with a felony, you could be deported.

Juvenile Felony Defense

Most criminal cases involving people under the age of 18 are heard in juvenile court. But for certain felony offenses, a juvenile could have their case transferred to adult court. The consequences of a conviction in adult court are much more severe and could result in hefty fines, a lengthy prison sentence, and a permanent criminal record.

Some juvenile offenses, such as murder and manslaughter, require that the case be transferred to adult court. In other cases, transfer to adult court is discretionary. A seasoned serious felony attorney with experience in both the juvenile and adult criminal legal system can work to keep your case in juvenile court where the consequences will be less severe.

Contact A Serious Felony Attorney for Aggressive Defense in Connecticut

To defend against serious felony charges, you need an experienced serious felony attorney who will thoroughly investigate and meticulously prepare your defense. While every situation is different, a thoughtfully crafted defense will identify and exploit weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, uncover unreliable or biased witness testimony, exclude evidence that was obtained illegally or through police misconduct, and expose the flaws in the prosecutor’s theory of the case.

Common defense strategies in a felony criminal case include:

• Alibi
• Mistaken Identity
• Lack of Intent
• Self-Defense
• Defense of Others
• Illegal Search and Seizure
• Police or Prosecutorial Misconduct

If you have been charged with a serious felony, your freedom is on the line. Do not leave your future to chance. The Lebedevitch Law Firm stands ready to defend you against the most aggressive police and prosecutorial tactics. Serious felony attorney Stephen Lebedevitch will fight to protect your rights, minimize the likelihood and severity of a conviction, and keep your record clean.