Virginia Beach Felony Crime

In the state of Virginia, a criminal offense can be classified as either a misdemeanor or a felony crime, depending on the severity of the offense. While less serious crimes are grouped into the misdemeanor category, the most severe violations are felony crimes.

Due to the seriousness of the charges, a person who is accused of a felony offense will face more severe penalties than a person charged with only a misdemeanor crime—including serving time in a federal prison, rather than a county jail. In addition, individuals who are convicted of a felony offense may lose many of their personal liberties, including the right to own a gun, carry a passport, or vote.

The state of Virginia has six categories of felonies, with each of these groups having its own penalties. The most serious felonies can be found in the Class 1 group, which has a maximum sentence of death or life imprisonment, as well as a fine of up to $100,000. Capital murder, rape, and other homicides fall into this category. 

The maximum sentence for a Class 2 felony is life imprisonment. Like Class 1 felonies, the penalties for a Class 2 felony may also include a fine of $100,000. Some examples of Class 2 felonies include manslaughter, robbery, and sexual crimes.

Theft, kidnapping, and serious drug charges are a few examples of Class 3 felony offenses. The penalties for committing an offense in this category can include imprisonment for 5-10 years and a fine of $100,000.

Most white-collar and tax crimes are classified as Class 4 felonies. The maximum sentence for these types of offenses is a 10-year prison sentence and a fine of $100,000.

As the least severe of all felony crimes, the penalties for both Class 5 and Class 6 felonies include a maximum fine of $2,500. Individuals convicted of a Class 5 felony—such as habitual DUI and assisting in a kidnapping—may also spend up to 10 years in prison. Meanwhile, individuals convicted of reckless endangerment, violating a court order, and other Class 6 felonies face a maximum five-year prison sentence.

Although it is best to keep any type of criminal conviction off your record, a misdemeanor conviction will not disqualify you for housing, education, or employment opportunities the way a felony conviction may. Many employers will not hire you if you have been found guilty of such a crime. Landlords and apartment communities are also reluctant to rent property to convicted felons, and most colleges will not admit someone with a felony conviction. You may even be ineligible for certain grants and federal programs.

As a lifetime member of the National Association of Criminal Defense, attorney Michael C. Tillotson has extensive knowledge of Virginia’s criminal code, and has defended clients like you for more than a decade. Put Mr. Tillotson’s expertise to work for you—in many cases, he may be able to help you get your felony reduced to a misdemeanor, or even avoid conviction entirely. Call now for your free consultation.