Wheaton Felonies Attorney

Any kind of criminal conviction can have far-reaching consequences, but a felony conviction can bring even more serious ramifications. For example, in addition to high fines and lengthy prison terms, felony convictions can strip you of your firearm rights and even the right to vote. Even after their prison terms have ended, many people convicted of felonies have significant trouble finding employment. If you’re facing felony charges, your freedom is at risk. During this difficult time, nothing is more important than finding a qualified Wheaton felonies attorney — and the experienced lawyers at Wolfe & Stec, Ltd. are here for you.

What Sets Felonies Apart from Misdemeanors?

Some Felonies Have More Serious Consequences Than Others

Misdemeanors are considered to be minor crimes, and by definition, they’re less severe than felonies. Felonies are serious crimes, and Illinois divides them into six separate classes.

First-Degree Murder or Class M Felonies

In Illinois, first-degree murder is its own class of felony. It has a base sentencing range of 20 years to life in prison. However, there are “enhancements,” or aggravating factors, that can significantly raise penalties. Illinois has firearm sentence enhancements, which means that anyone convicted of certain crimes while using a firearm will have 15, 20, or 25 years added to their sentence. For example, if you are convicted of first-degree murder with a firearm, you will have a minimum sentence of 45 years instead of 20.

Class X Felonies

Class X felonies are serious violent crimes other than murder. Some examples include:

• Attempted first-degree murder
• Predatory criminal sexual assault
• Armed robbery
• Child sex trafficking
• Home invasion.

For these crimes, the base sentencing range is from 6 to 30 years in prison.

Class 1 Felonies

Illinois deems these crimes less serious than Class X felonies. Here are some examples:

• Production of child pornography
• Aggravated robbery
• Vehicular hijacking
• Second-degree murder.

Sentencing for these crimes ranges from 4 to 15 years in prison. As you can see, there’s some overlap when it comes to sentencing guidelines, so it’s possible to be incarcerated longer for certain Class 1 felonies than for Class X felonies.

Class 2 Felonies

These are considered to be less serious than Class 1 felonies. Some examples include:

• Kidnapping
• Witness harassment
• Arson
• Burglary
• Robbery.

Base sentencing for these crimes is 3 to 7 years in prison.

The right legal representation may mean the difference between walking free and spending years in prison. Call 630-305-0222 to get in touch with a Wheaton felonies lawyer at Wolfe & Stec, Ltd.

Class 3 Felonies

Class 3 felonies include the following:

• Unlawful use of a weapon
• Aggravated battery
• Theft between $300 and $1,000
• Forgery.

The baseline sentencing for these crimes is 2 to 5 years in prison.

Class 4 Felonies

This is the least serious class of felonies in Illinois. Anything deemed less serious than a Class 4 felony is a misdemeanor. Here are some Class 4 felony examples:

• Theft under $300
• Obstruction of justice
• Domestic battery.

For these crimes, baseline sentencing is 1 to 3 years in prison.

How a Wheaton Felonies Attorney Can Help

Fighting for a Better Outcome

Securing the services of an experienced felonies attorney in Wheaton is essential if you’ve been charged with a felony. But did you know that the right attorney can be extremely helpful even if you’ve already been convicted? Here’s how our Wheaton felonies lawyers may be able to help you.

Defense Against Felony Charges

If your case goes to trial, an attorney can formulate a personalized defense strategy. Even if you’re certain you’ll be convicted, you shouldn’t give up. In some cases, a skilled felonies attorney in Wheaton can point to a procedural error or rights violation that ultimately leads to your case being thrown out.

Arranging Plea Deals

Not all cases go to trial. In some cases, if the evidence against you is overwhelming, you might consider taking a plea deal. This is where you enter a guilty plea in exchange for a reduced sentence. This can be a good idea, but prosecutors will sometimes offer a plea deal if they’re worried they may lose the case. In these instances, going to trial might ultimately be the better choice.

Making decisions on plea deals can be difficult, but you should never try to negotiate one on your own. A felonies lawyer in Wheaton can help you decide whether a plea deal is best or whether it’s smarter to take your case to trial.

Mitigating Penalties if Convicted

What if you’re convicted? While no one would consider being convicted a good outcome, there’s still an opportunity for a defense lawyer to help you. As explained above, there’s no single sentence imposed for all felonies in a given class. Your Wheaton felonies attorney might be able to make a compelling argument for a reduced sentence — and being released from prison early is always a good thing.

Filing Appeals

If you’re convicted of a felony, all hope isn’t lost. Sometimes — like if there’s new evidence of your innocence or a juror is suspected of misconduct — it may be wise to file an appeal. Appeals usually must be filed soon after a conviction, and filing one on your own can be very difficult or impossible if you’re incarcerated. If your attorney believes there are grounds for an appeal, they can put one together and submit it for you. An appeal is not a guarantee of a new trial, but it’s something worth pursuing.

Expungement

Some kinds of felonies may be expunged, meaning they are removed from your record. If a conviction is eligible to be expunged, you usually have to wait a certain period after your sentence has ended. Unless you have a legal background, it can be difficult to see if an offense is eligible for expungement, let alone try to expunge it on your own. An experienced attorney can help you determine whether a felony can be expunged. If so, they can help you file the necessary paperwork.

How Felonies Can Impact You Even After Your Sentence

Unfortunately, your felony may follow you even after your sentence is complete. These are some of the possible consequences:

Employment

In some cases, a conviction can bar you from certain employment opportunities. Fortunately, Illinois has the Illinois Human Rights Act, a law that prohibits employers from declining applicants solely for having a criminal record. However, if the conviction has a relationship to the job (like if you have a recent DUI and are applying to be a bus driver), you can be denied employment. Additionally, keep in mind that for many careers requiring licensure, having a felony conviction can prevent you from getting a license.

Voting Rights

In Illinois, if you’re convicted of a felony, you may not vote while on probation or parole. Once your sentence is complete, that right is restored.

Housing

Having certain felonies can prevent you from receiving public housing. Illinois has a Just Housing Amendment (JHA) that prohibits landlords from denying applicants based on convictions more than three years old, but recent felonies may make it difficult to find housing.

Firearm Rights

Being convicted of a felony removes your firearm rights. However, in some cases, you may be able to restore those rights.

Frequently Asked Questions

Facing felony charges can be disorienting, and you probably have a lot of questions. Here’s a look at some of the questions people often ask our Wheaton felonies lawyers:

How is a felony different from a misdemeanor?

Felonies are more serious than misdemeanors, and they usually result in higher fines and longer prison terms. However, misdemeanors can still have serious consequences, so it’s wise to retain an attorney if you’ve been charged with any crime.

Should I take a plea?

That question is impossible to answer without knowing the specifics of your case. A Wheaton felonies lawyer will be able to assess your situation and recommend the best course of action given your circumstances.

Does a felony mean I’ll have a permanent criminal record?

Not always. Some kinds of felonies can be expunged from your record or sealed after a certain period of time. A felonies attorney in Wheaton may be able to help you have certain offenses expunged.

How long do I go to prison if I’m convicted of a felony?

That depends on the conviction. Lower-level felonies can result in a year or two in prison. The highest level felony, first-degree murder, can result in life in prison.

There’s a lot at stake when you’re facing felony charges, and you need an experienced advocate by your side. Our Wheaton felonies attorneys are ready to fight for you whether you are facing new charges or have already been convicted.

Why Choose Us?

If you’re charged with a felony, you have the option of receiving legal help from a public defender. However, these attorneys tend to lack the experience needed to achieve favorable outcomes. Most of them have high caseloads, so they often just don’t have enough time to dedicate to your case.

At Wolfe & Stec, Ltd., our Wheaton felonies lawyers have the experience and knowledge you need when you’re up against serious charges. If you’ve been charged with a felony, we’re ready to advocate for you.

If you’ve been charged with a felony, our felonies lawyers in Wheaton might be able to help. Give us a call right away at 630-305-0222.