Felonies
Felonies in South Carolina are serious crimes. They include murder, rape, kidnapping and armed robbery. A felony conviction typically carries a harsher penalty than a misdemeanor. Repeat felons are punished extra harshly because sentencing laws in South Carolina take into consideration someone’s’ criminal history. Anyone convicted of a felony offense in South Carolina faces a potential prison sentence that depends on the class of the felony committed. The sentences associated with each class are maximum incarceration penalties, and individual sentences in any given case could be less.
The state of South Carolina organizes felony crimes into 6 different categories: Class A through Class F.
Class A. Imprisonment for not more than 30 years.
Class B. Imprisonment for not more than 25 years.
Class C. Imprisonment for not more than 20 years.
Class D. Imprisonment for not more than 15 years.
Class E. Imprisonment for not more than 10 years.
Class F. Imprisonment for not more than 5 years.
Examples of crimes at each level are:
Class A
- Kidnapping
- Voluntary manslaughter
- Attempted murder
Class B
- Failure to stop a vehicle when death occurs
- Second-degree arson
- Second-degree assault and battery by mob
Class C
- Sexual exploitation of a minor
- Carjacking
- Attempted armed robbery
Class D
- Manufacturing or distributing methamphetamine or cocaine, first offense
- Third-degree arson
- Second degree burglary
Class E
- Unlawful conduct toward a child
- Reckless homicide
- Third degree criminal sexual conduct
Class F
- Habitual traffic offender
- Manufacturing or distributing marijuana, first offense
- Stalking
Felony offenses could include:
- Federal charges
- Murder and violent crimes
- Gun and weapons charges
- Theft and embezzlement charges
- White-collar crimes (i.e. fraud, money laundering)
- Drug possession charges (i.e. methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, etc.)
- Assault
- Robbery
- Kidnapping
- Sex Crimes & Sexual Assault
Call The Crane Law Firm for legal advice! We have represented clients and have negotiated with prosecutors in Courts throughout the Upstate. South Carolina felony charges are very serious and have significant potential penalties associated with them, so call The Crane Law Firm at 864-235-2900 as soon as you are arrested, charged, or approached by investigators. If you don’t consult with an experienced criminal attorney, you can significantly damage your case and hurt your chance to present the best possible legal defense.