Sullo & Sullo Attorneys Defend all Manner of Felony and Misdemeanor Charges in Harris County.
If you have been the subject of a Harris County Arrest or been charged with a crime in Harris County Criminal Court, you are likely upset, anxious and unsure of what steps you need to take next. Because your reputation, freedom and future are at stake, it is extremely important that you are fully aware of your rights. The Houston Criminal Defense Attorneys at Sullo & Sullo will fight aggressively for those rights, no matter what Harris County Criminal Court charges you are facing.
The Differences between Houston Felonies & Misdemeanors Charges in Texas -The primary distinction between a misdemeanor charge and a felony charge in the state of Texas lies in the severity of the consequences in the event of a conviction. Misdemeanors are generally lesser crimes which are divided into classes depending on the degree of seriousness and the type of punishment. Because a Harris County Criminal Court misdemeanor conviction could also result in the loss of certain privileges such as your driver’s license or even revocation of public office, it’s important to give these Harris County Criminal Court charges the seriousness they warrant. The Houston Criminal Lawyers at Sullo & Sullo will always strive to provide the highest level of representation and will be there to offer help when you need it most.
Classes of Misdemeanor Charges in Texas - A Class C misdemeanor conviction in Texas—such as a traffic ticket—generally brings only a fine, a Class B misdemeanor in Texas such as possession of a small amount of marijuana can bring as much as a $2,000 fine and 180 days in jail and a Class A misdemeanor conviction could bring up to a $4,000 fine and a year in jail. Even in the case of a relatively harmless-sounding misdemeanor charge, you should always take the precaution of being represented by a Houston Criminal Defense Lawyer who will work hard to ensure the best possible outcome for your specific circumstances.
Degrees of Felony Charges in Texas - A Harris County Criminal Court felony charge can have much more serious penalties and consequences than a misdemeanor charge, and no matter what felony you have been charged with it is imperative you immediately hire an experienced Houston Criminal Defense Attorney to work on your behalf. As with misdemeanor charges there are different degrees of Harris County Criminal Court felony charges in Texas. A state jail felony can bring up to two years in the Texas Department of Corrections without parole, a 3rd degree felony can bring two to ten years in prison, a 2nd degree felony carries two to twenty years in prison, a 1st degree felony can lead to from five to 99 years in prison, and a capital felony conviction brings a life sentence without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.
“1244” Crimes and the “Three Strikes” Law - A 1244 crime is one that could be charged either as a felony or a misdemeanor depending largely on the discretion of the prosecutor. In some cases a 1244 charge can begin as a felony then be reduced to a misdemeanor at sentencing. If the Harris County District Attorney in your case is pushing your crime as a felony when it could potentially be downgraded to a misdemeanor, a Houston Criminal Defense Attorney from Sullo & Sullo will work tirelessly to find flaws in the investigation in order to negotiate lesser charges with a more favorable outcome.
The three strikes law in Texas can dramatically increase the punishment for repeat offenders, meaning a third felony offense conviction could land you in prison for a minimum of twenty-five years or even the remainder of your life. As defined by the law, a “strike” is a serious or violent felony including such crimes as burglary or assault. The experienced Houston Criminal Defense Lawyers at Sullo & Sullo understand the seriousness of a third strike charge and will aggressively evaluate the evidence against you early in the case to determine whether to negotiate a plea bargain in return for canceling this very grave third strike. When the stakes are high and your future is on the line, hiring the most knowledgeable, skilled Houston Criminal Lawyer is essential.
Crimes Which Cause Harm to Others - Most crimes which cause injury to others are charged as felonies, however even when the person has not been seriously injured a criminal act may still have been committed. For instance, a person who deliberately harasses another person can be charged with a Class B misdemeanor; harassment can include something as slight as making an obscene comment in the course of communicating via a phone call or letter or even calling another person and hanging up.
Assault can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the severity and can include threatening another person, or deliberately engaging in physical contact with another with the intent to cause harm. Sex crimes can often be charged as a misdemeanor unless a child is involved in which case they automatically are charged as a felony.
You May Not Have the Luxury of Time - If you have been charged with a Harris County Criminal Court felony or misdemeanor in Texas, we urge you to act decisively and be as proactive as possible about protecting your rights and future. A Harris County Criminal Court felony conviction in particular, and even a misdemeanor conviction can bring a wide array of negative consequences into your life including Harris County Jail time, substantial fines, Harris County Criminal Court Records or Texas Criminal Records that never go away, career or housing difficulties, the inability to get the job you want, financial problems and loss of privileges you likely take for granted.
Most people experience shock and denial following their Harris County Arrest which is why it is prudent to contact an experienced Houston Criminal Defense Attorney as soon as possible. Even if you have not yet been charged, but believe you are under investigation, the time to secure an advocate in your corner is now. The Houston Criminal Lawyers at Sullo & Sullo will try to negotiate with the Harris County District Attorney, and will always strive to first have your case dismissed, however if a dismissal or acquittal at trial does not appear likely, we will then work aggressively to try and have your Harris County Criminal Court charges reduced and penalties minimized.
While our goal will be to resolve your issues outside of trial, we recognize that a trial can be necessary. Our Houston Criminal Lawyers have the experience and over a decade of successfully defending those faced with Harris County Criminal Court charges—we are ready to step inside the Harris County Courthouse when the situation demands. While everyone hopes they will never need the services of a Houston Criminal Lawyer, contact Houston Criminal Defense Lawyers at Sullo & Sullo if you ever do.
How do I find an Affordable Houston Criminal Attorney Near Me? And How Much Does a Lawyer Cost at Sullo & Sullo? It is very common for Harris County Criminal Court Defendants to search for a Cheap Lawyer to defend them. At the Houston Criminal Law Firm of Sullo & Sullo, we strive to keep our costs low while keeping the quality of our representation high. Sullo & Sullo aspires to be the Best Criminal Defense Attorney in Harris County. We are conveniently located near downtown Houston, and have business hours seven days a week. We are Houston Criminal Defense Lawyers with Payment Plans and we offer Houston Criminal Lawyer Free Consultations.