Types of Felony Crimes That Require a Defense Attorney in Kings County (2025)

Felony charges are serious and should not be taken lightly. Most types of felony crimes that require a defense attorney in Kings County have the potential to be mitigated with the right legal defense. It is not recommended that anyone charged with any of these crimes go to court without first hiring a criminal defense attorney. Below are some of the most common felony charges for which a lawyer is useful.

Violent Felonies

Charges considered to be violent felonies are some of the most serious charges you can get in California. They include such charges as rape, sexual assault, robbery, kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon, murder, and attempted murder. A conviction of any of these types of felony crimes that require a defense attorney in Kings County can result in a jail sentence, unless it’s a second conviction of a serious, violent, or sex crime, which may result in a prison sentence.

When a violent crime conviction is a second felony conviction of any kind, they are referred to as second strikers, and their sentence is automatically twice the length it would otherwise be. Third strikers can be sentenced to 25 years to life in some situations. In 2021, California state prisons housed almost 24,000 second strikers and 6,000 third strikers.

In many cases of murder charges, the defendant could possibly face the death penalty. A criminal defense attorney is imperative in these cases because there is so much at stake.

Property Crimes Felonies

Felonies that are considered property crimes involve the destruction or taking of someone’s property. These offenses include arson, grand theft, carjacking, and burglary. A conviction of any of these felonies may result in jail or prison time. A defense attorney is skilled at investigating the evidence and challenging anything that is questionable, unfair, or not supportive of the narrative, leading to a conviction. If anything, a good lawyer can potentially mitigate the charges.

Drug Offense Felonies

Felony drug charges include possession of a controlled substance with the intent to sell, drug trafficking, and drug manufacturing. California has minimized many drug charges to misdemeanors, but with prior convictions, especially, more serious drug charges are quickly bumped up to felonies. In many cases, though, a good defense attorney can negotiate charges and penalties, and drug diversion programs are a common compromise for sentencing in these cases.

White Collar Crime Felonies

Non-violent crimes that are committed for monetary gain typically fall under the category of white collar crimes. These crimes include embezzlement, fraud, and identity theft, among others. The penalties for white collar felonies include imprisonment, fines, and restitution.

In these cases, there is usually documented evidence which is difficult to challenge, but due to the non-violent nature of these crimes, it is often an easier feat for a criminal defense attorney to negotiate with the court for minimized sentencing, reduced charges, or an arranged plea deal.

Domestic Violence Felonies

When someone commits violence against someone in their family or someone they are in a relationship with, they can sometimes get felony charges for their alleged crimes. Such crimes include corporal injury of a spouse and domestic battery.

A conviction of these felonies can result in loss of certain rights, a restraining order, prison or jail time, and treatment, such as counseling. A criminal defense attorney can help a defendant negotiate a minimized penalty or challenge false allegations.

Changes for 2025

Proposition 36 in California allows certain theft crimes and drug charges to be increased to felonies and incur longer sentencing. These crimes include multiple-offense theft crimes and multiple-offense drug possession charges. The implications of Prop. 36 vary from county to county, but the intent of the law is to encourage sentencing that includes treatment rather than incarceration. Whether it does or not is debatable.

FAQs

What Is the Most Common Type of Criminal Defense?

Self-defense is one of the most commonly used criminal defenses, especially for defendants of violent crimes, such as assault, battery, and homicide. Claiming self-defense for the protection of oneself or another individual is mostly effective unless there is blatant evidence that proves otherwise, such as video footage or witness testimony.

Is a Class C or D Felony Worse?

Felony classification systems vary by state. Depending on the state, the charges can determine if a Class C or Class D felony is a worse charge. In most states, class D is the least severe felony level. In California, the classification of felonies is not designated by letters; rather, crimes are classified as serious crime/non-serious crime, sex crime/non-sex crime, or violent crime/non-violent crime.

What Are the Three Types of Defense Attorneys?

The three main defense attorney types in the US are private attorneys, assigned counsel, and public defenders. When defendants cannot afford legal representation, public defenders are provided by the state or county to represent them in their case. Assigned counsel refers to private lawyers that the court appoints for individuals who don’t qualify for a public defender but still can’t afford a lawyer. A private attorney is hired by the defendant by their own choice and with their own funds.

What Are Level 4 Felonies?

In California, the equivalent of a level four felony would be a non-serious, nonviolent, or non-sexually related felony just above the highest level misdemeanor. Classification of these crimes in California is non-serious, non-violent, and non-sex-related. These are often called 1170 crimes in the California penal code, where they are found.

Skilled Kings County Felony Defense Attorney

Kings County is not only the location of three state correction facilities, but ironically, has an incarceration rate that is 75% higher than the state average. In addition, the unemployment rate in Kings County, California, is currently almost double the unemployment rate in the state of California. With a population of 150,000, the odds may be stacked against residents of King County, but you don’t have to face felony charges alone.

If you’ve been charged with a felony for any of these types of felony crimes that require a defense attorney in Kings County, you need a criminal defense attorney sooner rather than later. Finding a trustworthy attorney may seem daunting, but we make it easy. Contact Carlos Navarrete Law Firm and schedule a consultation to discuss your case and learn how we can help to mitigate the severity of your charges.