Dallas Felony Defense

Fraud | Armed Robbery | Grand Theft Auto | Drug Crimes

Felonies are serious offenses usually categorized under Texas law by degree — first, second and third — based on the severity of the crime. The felony carrying the heaviest sentence and considered the gravest of all felony offenses is capital felony, which is reserved for premeditated murder and is punishable by execution. The least serious type of felony is a state jail felony, which results in a term in state jail.

Texas Penalties for Felonies

  • Capital felony: life in prison or death
  • First-degree felony: 5 years to life in prison
  • Second-degree felony: 2-20 years in prison
  • Third-degree felony: 2-10 years in prison
  • State jail felony: 6 months to 2 years in state jail

At the Dallas Law Office of Phillip Hayes, we defend clients in all Texas state and federal felonies and will strive to have your case dismissed or charges reduced whenever possible.

Clients who seek our legal help for trusted representation include: police officers, doctors, lawyers and other professionals whose reputations are at stake when they face criminal charges.

For additional information about our qualifications and the quality of our services, please visit our Benefits of Retaining Attorney Phillip Hayes page.

Experienced State and Federal Felony Defense Lawyer

Burglary and theft fall under felony classification based on the value of stolen property, which must be more than $1,500. When drunk-driving offenses are repeated, charges may increase from misdemeanor to felony charges, as in the instance of a third DWI conviction. Drug crimes are charged as felonies based on the quantity and type of drug along with the activity involved. For example, drug trafficking of a large amount of a narcotic, such as cocaine, would be charged as a felony, whereas possession of a small quantity of marijuana would be considered a misdemeanor.

Habitual felonies are another type of felony charge. Habitual felonies are charged when a person with two prior felony convictions commits a third felony. Habitual felonies carry a penalty of 25 years to life for a first-, second- or third-degree felony. A first-degree felony, when committed with a prior felony conviction, carries possible sentencing of 15 years to life.

State and Federal Jurisdiction

In general, felonies are tried at the state or federal level depending on which justice system has jurisdiction over the crime. If federal and state jurisdiction overlap, such as in the indictment of drug cases, authorities will decide which legal system should prosecute the case.

Examples of State and Federal Felonies:

  • Aggravated assault
  • Burglary
  • Rape
  • Felony murder
  • Grand theft
  • White collar crime
  • RICO
  • Kidnapping
  • Hate crime
  • Homicide
  • Narcotics crime
  • Illegal possession of a weapon
  • Violations of federal drug and gun laws
  • Computer crime

Contact an Experienced Dallas Felony Defense Lawyer Today

When you are arrested or charged with a felony offense, the sooner you secure legal counsel, the better opportunity we have to start preparing an effective defense. It is crucial that you don’t delay. In addition, obtaining a criminal defense lawyer with extensive trial experience can significantly affect the outcome of your case.

For additional information about Texas and federal felony crimes or to discuss your particular felony charges in confidence with an experienced Dallas criminal defense lawyer, please schedule a consultation by calling attorney Phillip Hayes at 214-774-0488.

If you prefer, you can fill out our intake form and we will contact you to schedule a consultation. Our phones are answered 24/7 to better serve you.