Felony Charges In Cuyahoga County
Felony charges must be taken seriously as they can have life-altering consequences. If convicted of a felony offense in Cuyahoga County, your short-term and long-term future will immediately be impacted. If you're currently facing felony criminal charges in Cleveland, the first and most important step to take is securing a Strongsville felony defense attorney. Hiring a skilled and aggressive criminal defense lawyer will drastically increase your chances of a favorable outcome when battling allegations of a felony charge. Godinsky Law LLC specializes in these types of cases and has a strong track record of getting felony charges reduced or dropped entirely. For more information, contact our office for a risk-free consultation.
Felony Offenses In Ohio
The most serious criminal charges in the State of Ohio are known as felony offenses. A step below felony charges is misdemeanors which are generally reserved for more minor crimes like theft, disorderly conduct, and reckless driving. Although misdemeanors may not be as serious as felony charges, misdemeanors can still come with serious penalties, such as jail time and hefty fines. It's important to note that the distinction between felonies and misdemeanors is not always clear and in many cases, there is an opportunity to reduce a felony to a misdemeanor. Although both will still have consequences, misdemeanor penalties are lighter compared to felonies and carry much less of a stigma. Obtaining representation from an experienced Cleveland felony defense attorney will provide you with the best opportunity to receive the optimal outcome in your case. Below are some of the more common felony charges we represent at Godinsky Law LLC:
Penalties For Felony Charges In Ohio
If you are convicted of a felony charge in Cuyahoga County, you will have to serve a mandatory prison sentence. You will also be responsible for paying a designated fine, which may involve the cost of the prosecution undertaken against you.
Depending on the crime you've been charged with, you will be facing a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th-degree felony. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-degree felonies carry the harshest penalties and are typically only handed out to repeat offenders or serious crimes. On the other hand, 4th and 5th-degree felonies do not have very severe penalties and are generally reserved for minor crimes. The table below highlights the different degrees of felonies, fines, and prison time associated with each.
Unclassified Felonies In Ohio
Two of the most serious felonies in Ohio are murder and aggravated murder. Due to the severity of these crimes they are not categorized by degree. Rather Ohio law has designated specific penalties for each of these crimes. For someone convicted of aggravated murder, the potential penalty ranges from death to life in prison with or without the possibility of parole, and a fine of up to $25,000. For someone convicted of murder, the sentence is an indefinite term of 15 years to life in prison and a possible fine of as much as $15,000 (Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §§ 2903.01, 2903.02, 2929.02). If you're facing either of these charges, you must contact a highly experienced felony defense lawyer in Cleveland right away.
What Is A Common Pleas Court?
Unlike the Municipal Courts, which hear misdemeanor cases, the prosecution of felonies under Ohio law is handled in Common Pleas courts. Every county, including Cuyahoga County, has a common pleas court consisting of one or more judges. A common pleas court has jurisdiction to hear all criminal felony cases. The common pleas court also has the authority to hear appeals from decisions of municipal and county courts as well as state and local administrative agencies. The jurisdiction of municipal, county, and mayors' courts is regulated by statute, but the common pleas court has countywide jurisdiction. This jurisdiction is established in the Ohio Constitution, therefore, it cannot be changed without a constitutional amendment. Although there are frequent discussions about changing the Ohio court system, as of 2021 there are no new changes.
Learn More About Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court
Statutes of Limitations
In order to be officially charged with a felony crime in Ohio, prosecutors must first make sure that the legal time limit within which to do so has not expired. This time limit is known as the statute of limitations. The statute of limitations gives prosecutors a specific amount of time to file criminal charges against the at-fault party. However, if the time allowed under the statute of limitations has expired, prosecutors cannot file charges in that case. Although there is no statute of limitations for murder charges in Ohio, most other felony offenses have a 6 year or 20-year statute of limitations period (Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2901.13).
Record Sealing & Expungement Of Felonies
If you have been convicted of a felony charge in Cleveland, you still have options. Even if you are charged with a major felony, it's still possible to get your record sealed or erased in the future. At Godinsky Law LLC we believe those charged with felonies deserve a second chance, and that starts with with a clean slate, or in this case, a clean criminal record. It's important to remember that an erased record is sealed away and not available for the public eye. This makes it much easier for you to move on with your life without fear of judgement and difficulties with things like obtaining employment, owning a firearm, or applying for a professional license. However, expungement cases can be difficult to prepare, and the state of Ohio does not grant Expungement easily. If you're interested in having your record sealed, contact our Strongsville felony defense attorney today to review your case and determine the best path forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are many different felonies, all of which are treated differently in a court of law. However, there are certain felonies are that are more common than others. At Godinsky Law LLC, the felony charges that we most often defend are:
- Drug crimes
- Arson
- Assault
- Weapons crimes
- Domestic violence
Unfortunately, there is a possibility that a felony on your criminal record could hurt your chances of landing a new job. It's common for employers to ask about your criminal record during the hiring process. Most of the time, they consider felony charges as red flags. Different employers will be looking for different things on your background check, depending on the position for which you are applying. For example, a felony conviction for fraud charges would likely prohibit someone from having a career in the financial industry.
Remember, you are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This means that the prosecutor has the challenge of convincing the jury of the defendant’s guilt, and if they cannot successfully do so, the defendant goes free. Having a skilled and aggressive Strongsville felony defense attorney in your corner greatly increases your odds of a positive outcome.
Contact Our Strongsville Felony Defense Attorney Now
A felony charge is a serious matter and must be treated as such. If you're currently under investigation for a felony in Cuyahoga County or have already been charged, you should seek representation from an experienced local criminal defense attorney right away. If you make a decision about your case without first consulting an experienced lawyer, you could drastically harm your chances of a positive outcome. Godinsky Law LLC has a proven track record with countless success stories for those facing felony charges in the Cleveland area. Contact our office today to speak with our Strongsville felony defense attorney for a free case evaluation.