Louisville Felony Defense Lawyer

While facing any criminal charge in Lousiville, KY can be overwhelming and frightening, facing a felony can be terrifying.

A felony conviction comes with the harshest penalties under Kentucky law. Along with the damage to your reputation, you may be facing a very long prison sentence that can change your life forever, even after you are released.

You do not need to face the court alone. At Suhre & Associates, LLC, we are here to help you defend yourself against the charges you are facing.

A Louisville felony defense lawyer can help you aggressively fight the charges you are facing and seek to have them dismissed or reduced. Contact our law firm today at (502) 371-7000 to schedule your case review with a defense lawyer who will fight for you.

How Our Louisville Criminal Defense Lawyers Can Help with a Felony Defense

How Our Louisville Criminal Defense Lawyers Can Help with a Felony Defense

At Suhre & Associates, LLC, we believe in the presumption of innocence, one of the criminal justice system’s most important principles. Every person in Kentucky who is facing a criminal charge deserves a vigorous defense and is innocent until proven guilty.

Our criminal defense lawyers in Louisville will help you through every stage of your criminal proceedings to protect your rights and give you the strong defense you deserve. We will:

Help You Secure a Bond

With most charges in Kentucky, you have the right to a bond to secure your freedom from jail during your court case. We have decades of experience working with the complicated bail bond system in Kentucky. We will work to secure a reasonable bond that allows you to return to your life until your case is resolved.

Work with the Prosecution

In the early stages of your case, the prosecution may be open to a plea bargain deal. This means they may pressure you into accepting an offer that is not in your best interests. We will negotiate with the prosecuting attorney to seek a fair plea bargain.

During this time, we will also gather evidence to support your defense or find flaws in the prosecution’s case. We will seek to have your charges reduced or dismissed, when possible.

Represent You During the Trial

If a fair plea bargain deal can’t be reached and your charges cannot be dismissed, your case will likely go to court. Your Suhre & Associates, LLC defense lawyer will be there every step of the way to give you the sound legal defense you are entitled to.

We have spent decades representing clients before Kentucky juries. We will argue your case, present evidence to support your defense, and highlight the flaws in the prosecution’s case against you.

What Is a Felony in Kentucky?

There are two broad types of crimes under the Kentucky criminal code: misdemeanors and felonies. As a general rule, a felony is defined as a criminal offense with a potential punishment of one year or longer in prison.

Felonies are more serious crimes than misdemeanors and tend to involve some type of violence.

Some crimes in Kentucky are considered “wobbler” offenses. This means the crime can be charged as a misdemeanor, a lesser offense, or as a felony. How the crime will be charged may depend not only on the circumstances of the case but also on the defendant’s prior criminal record. 

In Kentucky, there are four classes of felonies: Class D felonies are the lowest class and Class A felonies are the highest class. A Class D felony can result in 1 to 5 years of imprisonment while a Class A felony can result in 20 to 50 years or life imprisonment.

Felony Classes in Kentucky and Common Felony Charges

Kentucky Revised Statute 532.020, Designation of Offenses defines felonies by classes. There are four classes of felonies in Kentucky that vary in terms of severity and potential punishment.

Class D Felonies

The most common Class D felonies in Louisville are:

  • Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
  • Possession of a controlled substance
  • First-degree wanton endangerment
  • Stalking in the first degree
  • 4th offense of driving under the influence
  • Unauthorized use of a credit card with total charges of $500 to $1,000 

A Class D felony is still serious, but it has the shortest possible sentencing term of all felonies.

Class C Felonies

Class C felonies in Louisville can include:

  • Theft involving more than $10,000
  • Trafficking a controlled substance over a certain limit
  • 2nd degree assault
  • 2nd degree burglary
  • Possession of a handgun by a convicted felon 

If convicted of a Class C felony, you are facing at least five years in prison.

Class B Felonies

Class B felonies in Kentucky are considered very serious. These offenses often involve violence or sex crimes.

If you are charged with a Class B felony, you are facing at least 10 years in prison if convicted.

Class A Felonies

Class A felonies are the most serious offenses in Kentucky. Examples of Class A felonies include:

  • Murder, a type of homicide charge
  • Rape of a child under 12
  • Grand larceny
  • Some armed robberies 

If you are charged with a Class A felony, you are facing at least 20 years or life in prison.

What Are the Punishments for a Felony Conviction in Louisville?

The potential penalties for a felony conviction in Kentucky will depend on the class of the felony, the circumstances of the case, and your prior criminal record.

  • Class A felonies are punishable by 20-50 years or life imprisonment.
  • Class B felonies are punishable by 10-20 years imprisonment.
  • Class C felonies are punishable by 5-10 years imprisonment.
  • Class D felonies are punishable by 1-5 years imprisonment. 

In addition to prison time, you may also face fines of $1,000 to $10,000 (or double any gain from the offense).

If you have prior felony convictions, you may be classified as a “persistent felony offender” under Kentucky Revised Statute 532.080. This means you can face a longer prison term than someone convicted of the same crime without a felony record. For example, when facing a Class C or Class D felony, you will face a minimum sentence of 10 years but not more than 20 years instead of a minimum of 1 or 5 years.

Because the penalties for a felony conviction are very harsh, especially if you have a prior felony conviction, it’s crucial to work with a felony defense lawyer in Louisville as soon as possible to begin building your defense. It isn’t just your freedom that’s on the line; it’s also your reputation, financial future, and job prospects after release.

Capital Offenses in Kentucky

Kentucky is one of several states that administers the death penalty for certain crimes. These crimes are called capital offenses. Murder is a capital offense when there was at least one aggravating factor.

In general, the death penalty is reserved for crimes in which an adult kills someone with no mitigating factors like heat-of-passion or self-defense. An aggravating factor is necessary before life imprisonment or capital punishment can be imposed such as:

  • Kidnapping
  • Sodomy
  • Killing during a rape
  • Maliciousness
  • Previous murder conviction 

If your case may involve any of these aggravating factors, it’s crucial to contact an experienced felony defense lawyer in Kentucky as soon as possible.

How Can I Defend Myself Against a Felony Charge in Louisville?

There are many types of felonies under Kentucky criminal law. Aggravating factors such as a prior conviction or use of a deadly weapon can also enhance misdemeanors into felony charges. While you may feel hopeless, there are many possible defense avenues to explore with the help of experienced felony defense lawyers in Louisville.

At Suhre & Associates, LLC, we perform a full analysis of your case with attention to detail to explore possible defense options.

Law enforcement or the prosecution may have made errors while investigating the incident and gathering evidence against you. In this case, we will move to have the evidence or your entire case thrown out.

The prosecution may fail to meet every element necessary for the criminal charge. For example, the charge of receiving stolen property requires that you not only possess the stolen property but have good reason to know it was stolen with the intent to deprive its owner of the property.

Your defense may also be built around an alibi or self-defense, depending on the details of your case.

At Suhre & Associates, LLC, we have more than a century of combined experience defending people facing serious felony charges. We will not rest in crafting your defense and fighting to have the charges you are facing dismissed or reduced.

Contact a Louisville Felony Defense Lawyer

Are you facing a felony charge in Kentucky? With your freedom, livelihood, and reputation on the line, you need an experienced Louisville defense lawyer to fight for you. Suhre & Associates, LLC is here to be your advocate through every step of your case.

Suhre & Associates, LLC has an attorney on call 24/7. If you have been charged with a felony in Louisville, do not hesitate to contact us right away to begin protecting your legal rights and building your defense. Call our office today to schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced felony defense lawyer in Louisville. 

Visit our Law Office in Louisville, Kentucky

Suhre & Associates, LLC
214 S Clay St A
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 371-7000

Ride there with Uber