Lincoln Felony Crimes Lawyer

A felony is any crime punishable by a year or more of incarceration. However, prison time is just the tip of the iceberg.  After a conviction, you can forfeit civil liberties such as the right to vote or possess firearms. A felony conviction may also impact employment, professional licenses, military service, and other facets of your life.

With so much at risk, felony criminal charges require aggressive legal representation. At Berry Law, our Lincoln felony lawyers do everything within the bounds of the law and ethics to shield you from the harshest consequences. Reach out to an experienced criminal defense attorney from Berry Law to begin working on your case.

Proven Trial Lawyers for Felony Charges

Our track record includes dismissals, acquittals, and other favorable outcomes in felony cases, including defending clients facing felony charges for:

• Drug crimes — possession, distribution, and trafficking
• White-collar crimes — fraud, embezzlement, tax evasion, identity theft
• Sex offenses — sexual assault, child pornography, statutory rape
• Felony assault — aggravated assault, first-degree assault
• Weapons charges
• Murder or manslaughter
• DUI manslaughter
• Robbery or first-degree burglary
• Arson
• Federal crimes

The penalties associated with felony crimes are severe, but a defense attorney on our team can work to build an effective defense to your charges and utilize the tools available to them in felony cases. It is critical that your felony attorney understands these tools and uses them to your advantage when fighting your charges.

For example, in state felony cases defendants have the right to a preliminary hearing and may also depose witnesses prior to trial. These opportunities must not be taken lightly. Cases can be won and lost long before trial at depositions and pretrial hearings.

What is the Difference Between a Misdemeanor and a Felony?

Felony offenses carry the steepest penalties of all criminal charges under state law. Specifically, a felony conviction can result in penalties between one year and a lifetime in prison. Conversely, misdemeanors carry a maximum sentence of one year behind bars. For the most severe offenses, a felony could even carry the death penalty.

The way these sentences are served also varies. A person convicted of a misdemeanor will serve their sentence in a county jail. A felony typically leads to time in a state penitentiary.

While both types of offenses bring serious consequences, a felony has the steeper penalties of the two. Due to the potential effects of a felony conviction, it is vital that you seek legal counsel as soon as possible.

What Are the Collateral Consequences of a Felony Conviction?

There are many collateral consequences that come with a felony conviction. While these consequences might not stem directly from state law, the impact they may have on your life can be substantial.

It is possible to lose your right to vote following a felony conviction. What’s more, having a felony conviction on your criminal record could bring significant challenges in your career. Many employers will not consider hiring anyone with a felony conviction.

Additionally, a conviction could impact your ability to obtain or keep a professional license. Common types of professionals who could lose their license following a felony conviction include:

• Attorneys
• Nurses
• Doctors
• Commercial truck drivers

After a felony conviction, it may also be difficult to obtain adequate housing. Landlords have the right to discriminate against applicants based on their criminal history.

It is important to note that the collateral consequences of a conviction will not go away if you take a plea deal. For that reason, you should meet with a lawyer to thoroughly discuss your options before pleading guilty. A felony conviction could also impact your Second Amendment right to bear arms.

How Does a Felony Conviction Impact Gun Rights?

One of the main consequences of a felony conviction in Lincoln is the loss of gun rights. A convicted felon is barred from owning, possessing, using, or purchasing a firearm. Doing so following a conviction could result in additional felony charges.

There is a path to restoring your gun rights following a felony conviction, but it is complex. The only way to restore your firearm rights after a felony conviction is to seek a pardon from the Nebraska Board of Pardons.

The Board of Pardons is made up of the state’s Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General. This group is empowered to grant pardons, commutations, respites, and reprieves for nearly any criminal offense under state law.

However, obtaining a pardon on its own will not restore your rights. The Board must include specific language within the pardon that restores your right to own or possess a firearm. When going through this process, it is best to work with an attorney familiar with felony criminal cases.

If you need assistance restoring your gun rights, contact Berry Law.

The Importance of a Lincoln Felony Crimes Attorney

At Berry Law, we understand the stakes of a felony conviction. We will aggressively pursue your case from day one to ensure your rights are protected. We have secured not guilty verdicts for a large number of clients facing felony charges. Contact us today to schedule a confidential consultation with a Lincoln felony crimes lawyer.