CRIMINAL DEFENSE

Though it may not feel like it when you’ve been arrested, you absolutely can and deserve to fight the charges against you. Whether you simply made a mistake or you need to minimize those charges, don’t believe for one second that this is an impossible task.

Potential Outcomes for Nebraska Felonies

Nebraska classifies felonies into 9 different categories. Below is an overview of the types of felonies, as well as the possible penalties, for each class:

• A Class I Felony typically includes first-degree murder and may be punishable with the death penalty.

• A Class IA Felony may involve crimes such as kidnapping, committing arson, or murder. Penalties typically include a lifelong prison sentence.

• A Class IB Felony typically includes burglary, sexual assault of a child, aggravated assault (purposefully attempting to cause serious bodily injury), or manslaughter (killing someone without premeditation). Penalties may include 20+ years in prison (and up to a life-long sentence).

• A Class IC Felony may involve crimes such as committing a felony with a deadly weapon, possessing an illegal substance, or robbery. Penalties typically include 5-50 years in prison.

• A Class ID Felony typically includes manufacturing or distributing child pornography, assaulting a healthcare professional or law enforcement officer, or possessing 10-28 grams of illegal substances. Penalties may include 3-50 years in prison.

• A Class II Felony may involve crimes such as robbery, first-degree assault, first-degree sexual assault, or human trafficking. Penalties typically include 1-50 years in prison.

• A Class III Felony typically includes first-degree forgery, second-degree sexual assault, manufacturing or distributing drugs, first-degree forgery, using a dangerous instrument to strangle a person, or second-degree assault. Penalties may include 1-20 years in prison and/or a $25,000 fine.

• A Class IIIA Felony may involve crimes such as child enticement (attempting to lure or entice a child) or manufacturing or distributing drugs. Penalties typically include up to 5 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.

• A Class IV Felony typically includes second-degree forgery or assisted suicide. Penalties may include up to 5 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.

If you’ve been charged with one of the crimes above, it’s important to remember that everything is negotiable. You can plead not guilty or, even if you do plead guilty, you can fight to reduce the charges so that you have a smaller penalty. There is still hope for your case — let me prove that to you.