Felony Defense Attorneys in Rockville, Maryland

34 Years of Experience From A Team of Pragmatic and Efficient Defense Attorneys

Felonies are the most serious criminal charges you may face. As a result, it is important to act fast and hire an experienced defense attorney as soon as possible to resolve your case.

Our lawyers at Felsen and Sargent, LLC have been defending clients against criminal charges for 34 years, and they are well-respected in the legal community. When you are facing criminal charges as serious as felonies, which could result in years of your life in prison, you need a team of reputable and highly experienced advocates to champion your defense. Let Felsen and Sargent, LLC argue for mitigated or dismissed charges today. We advocate for defendants in Frederick, Prince George's, Carroll, and Howard Counties and the District of Columbia.

Felony Sentencing in Maryland

Felonies in Maryland are penalized based on the state’s mandatory minimum guidelines as well as the circumstances of the crime and your criminal history. Just like for misdemeanor crimes, each felony has a specific sentencing range determined by the state’s sentencing guidelines. 

Some examples of specific felony sentences include:

• Drug trafficking – mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000

• First-degree murder – life in prison or life in prison without the possibility of parole

• Second-degree rape (committed by an adult against a victim younger than 13 years old) – mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison up to life in prison

• First-degree assault – up to 25 years in prison

• First-degree burglary – up to 20 years in prison

• Theft of property worth $1,500-$25,000 – up to 5 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $5,000 as well as an obligation to restore the property to the owner or pay for its stolen value

Felony prison sentences are usually served in state prison, but it is possible for some sentences that are shorter than 12 months to be served in local jail. If your sentence is between 12-18 months, the judge may order you to serve that time in either local jail or state prison. 

Additionally, certain felonies allow the option of a jail sentence rather than a prison sentence, such as manslaughter, which is punishable either by up to 10 years’ imprisonment or up to 2 years in local jail and a fine of up to $500. Whether you are provided the option of local jail over state prison is up to the judge, however.

Alternative Sentencing or Suspensions

In some cases, a judge may decide to suspend all or part of your prison sentence and place you on probation instead. Probation may include a range of conditions, such as home detention and electronic monitoring. 

Maryland also implements mandatory minimum sentences for defendants who have prior convictions for violent crimes. Typically, the mandatory minimums are: 

• 10 years for a second conviction;

• 25 years for a third conviction; and 

• life without parole for a fourth conviction.

Certain crimes like drug and narcotics manufacturing may also carry additional penalties, based on the severity of the crime. 

If you have been accused of a felony in Montgomery County, do not hesitate to consult a defense attorney immediately about your options. There is no statute of limitations, or filing deadline, for felonies in Maryland, which means you could face a felony accusation no matter how much time has elapsed since the alleged crime occurred.

Don’t risk the short-term and long-term consequences of a felony conviction without exploring all your defense avenues with an experienced lawyer. Felsen & Sargent will gather all the relevant evidence in your case and build a compelling argument for mitigated or dismissed charges, if appropriate. You can count on the firm to assert your rights as a defendant all the way through your case and not to back down without giving their all.

Schedule a consultation with Felsen & Sargent to discuss your felony defense options in more detail.