Pennsylvania separates criminal offenses into three categories: minor offenses called “summary offenses,” more serious crimes called “misdemeanors,” and the most serious types of crimes, which are called “felonies.” While legal representation is crucial for any type of criminal charge in Philadelphia, representation by a skilled defense attorney is especially important in felony cases due to the extremely harsh penalties which can result from a conviction.

If you believe that you are under investigation for a suspected felony crime, or if you or a family member was recently arrested and charged with a felony, you need to contact our Philadelphia criminal attorneys as soon as possible. Every second you delay hinders your ability to defeat the charges and get back to enjoying your normal life with your loved ones. Take action and get immediate legal help from an experienced Philadelphia felony lawyer with a track record of courtroom success. Call the Law Offices of Lonny Fish right away at (215) 826-3314 for a free and confidential legal consultation.

Types of Felony Crimes Our Attorneys Can Handle

Pennsylvania’s criminal code distinguishes between hundreds of different offenses. In addition to the many misdemeanor offenses and felony offenses, there are also many crimes that can be prosecuted as misdemeanors or felonies depending on factors like the defendant’s criminal record, whether anyone was injured, the age of the victim, and other details.

At the Law Offices of Lonny Fish, our knowledgeable and experienced Philadelphia felony defense lawyers are qualified to handle a broad range of felony cases, from the preliminary criminal arraignment stage all the way to trial and beyond, including appellate procedures and post-conviction relief. Serving Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs, our Philadelphia felony defense attorneys handle felony sex crimes, felony violent crimes, felony financial crimes (“white collar crimes”), felony property crimes, felony drug crimes, felony weapons crimes, and many other offenses. Types of felony cases we handle include, but are not limited to, the following charges:

• Aggravated Arson
• Aggravated Assault
• Aggravated Indecent Assault
• Arson
• Bank Robbery
• Bribery
• Burglary
• Carrying a Gun without a License
• Causing Suicide
• Counterfeiting
• Criminal Mischief
• Distributing Child Pornography
• Drug Delivery Resulting in Death
• Human Trafficking
• Failure to Register as a Sex Offender
• False Imprisonment
• Forgery
• Identity Theft
• Indecent Assault
• Institutional Sexual Assault
• Insurance Fraud
• Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse (IDSI)
• Involuntary Manslaughter
• Kidnapping
• Luring a Child
• Manslaughter of a Law Enforcement Officer
• Murder
• Obscene Materials Offenses
• Operating a Meth Lab (Methamphetamine)
• Possession of Child Pornography
• Promoting Prostitution
• Rape
• Rape of a Child
• Receiving Stolen Property
• Recruiting Gang Members
• Robbery
• Selling Firearms
• Sexual Abuse of Children
• Sexual Assault
• Sexual Exploitation of Children
• Shoplifting (Retail Theft)
• Stalking
• Statutory Rape (Statutory Sexual Assault)
• Terroristic Threats
• Theft by Deception
• Theft by Extortion
• Theft from a Motor Vehicle
• Theft of Services
• Trespassing (Criminal Trespass)
• Unlawful Restraint
• Vandalism
• Voluntary Manslaughter
• Witness Intimidation
• Writing Bad Checks

Sentencing and Fines for Felony Offenses in Philadelphia

“Felony” is a broad term. Critically for defendants, in Pennsylvania there are three specific types of felonies, which are separated by “degrees.” If you have been charged with a felony in Philadelphia, what it actually means is that you are being charged with a third degree felony, a second degree felony, or a first degree felony. The lower the number, the more serious the offense. For example, a first degree felony is a more serious crime than a third degree felony.

Sometimes, the same crime can be charged at different levels depending on the details of what allegedly occurred. For instance, a defendant who is accused of burglary could be charged with a second degree felony or a first degree felony, depending on the purpose of the building and whether a person was present. Depending on the case, the defense can sometimes persuade the prosecution to charge the defendant with a lesser offense, potentially resulting in much lighter penalties if the defendant pleads or is found guilty.

Some crimes have specific penalties or sentencing considerations written directly into the associated statutes. For example, under 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3121(b), Pennsylvania’s rape statute permits sentencing “an additional term not to exceed ten years’ confinement and an additional [fine] not to exceed $100,000,” under specific circumstances. However, in most cases, sentencing is based on the following factors:

• Whether the crime is graded as a felony of the third degree, second degree, or first degree.
• The defendant’s criminal history of prior offenses, if any.
• The presence of aggravating or mitigating factors. When you are represented by the Law Offices of Lonny Fish, your Philadelphia felony attorney will work to emphasize mitigating factors, which can help reduce the sentence you face.

Notwithstanding any unusual sentencing provisions, felony penalties in Pennsylvania may include the following criminal fines and prison sentences:

• First Degree Felony Fine – Up to $25,000
• First Degree Felony Sentence – Maximum of 20 years in prison
• Second Degree Felony Fine – $5,000 to $25,000
• Second Degree Felony Sentence – Maximum of 10 years in prison
• Third Degree Felony Fine – $2,500 to $15,000
• Third Degree Felony Sentence – Maximum of 7 years in prison

Special sentencing guidelines and penalties apply to murder cases in Pennsylvania. First degree murder may result in a sentence of life imprisonment, or even the death penalty (capital punishment). Though Pennsylvania has placed a moratorium on the death penalty, the moratorium has been subject to legal challenges and faces an uncertain future.

Contact a Philadelphia Felony Defense Attorney About Your Case

If you, your son or daughter, your mother or father, your husband or wife, or another loved one or family member has been charged with a felony offense in the Philadelphia region, experience-driven legal representation is absolutely critical. Felony convictions can have devastating, permanently life-altering repercussions. No matter what type of offense you or your family member has been arrested for, your case demands urgent attention from a Philadelphia criminal defense lawyer for felony charges. Call the Law Offices of Lonny Fish at (215) 826-3314 right away for a free and confidential legal consultation.