Felony crimes in Stillwater, Oklahoma have serious consequences for those convicted of such offenses.
Not only is someone accused of a felony subject to fines and prison time, he or she becomes known as a “felon” after conviction. Getting housing, jobs, professional licenses, and forming new relationships can be very difficult for convicted felons.
Felony Crimes in Stillwater
Oklahoma classifies crime into two broad categories: misdemeanors and felonies. The distinction between the categories of crimes lies in the severity of the sentence you will receive if convicted.
In Payne County, a misdemeanor is generally defined as a crime for which the punishment will be no more than a year in a county jail.
A felony crime, on the other hand, is a crime for which the punishment is either death or incarceration in a state penitentiary.
Unlike other states, Oklahoma does not divide felonies into different classes.
For instance, in some states, a Class A felony is one the most serious of felony offenses, while Class B and C are reserved for less serious offenses. Each class then will have a specific range of penalties associated with it. For example, up to 30 years imprisonment and a $500,000 fine for all Class A felonies and up to 10 years imprisonment and a $100,000 fine for Class C felonies.
Sentences for Felony Crimes in Stillwater
In Oklahoma, each felony offense has a specific range of penalties associated with it. For example, one violent crime may be punishable by a $1,000 fine and up to five years in prison, while another may be punishable by a $25,000 fine and up to 35 years in prison.
You will receive additional penalties if you are a repeat offender. For example, a first-time felony charge of possession of certain illegal drugs in the presence of a child under 12 years old is punishable by a $2,000 fine, up to two years in prison, or both. The punishment for a second offense will be a $10,000 fine, 4 to 20 years in prison, or both.
Furthermore, Oklahoma law mandates that persons convicted of certain crimes must serve at least 85% of their imposed sentence. For example, a person convicted of first-degree manslaughter and sentenced to 10 years in prison will need to serve 8.5 years before being eligible for parole.
Examples of crimes for which the 85% rule is applicable include, but are not limited to, the following:
- first-degree murder;
- first-degree manslaughter;
- assault with the intent to kill;
- first-degree rape;
- first-degree arson;
- bombing;
- child pornography;
- child prostitution; and
- aggravated drug trafficking.
For precise information regarding the potential sentence for a felony offense, contact an experienced Stillwater felony defense attorney.
No-Cost Consultation: Stillwater Felony Defense Attorney
The Wirth Law Office – Stillwater attorney has the skills you need for successful felony defense in Stillwater and Payne County, Oklahoma. Your liberty is worth defending. Let us use our knowledge and skills to protect your interests.
For a initial, confidential, and no-obligation consultation with an experienced Stillwater felony defense attorney, simply call 405-673-1600.
If you prefer, you can use the box in the upper right-hand corner of this page to send the Payne County attorney at law a brief question or message.
