Austin Felony Offense Lawyers

Serving Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, Comal, Travis, Burnet and Caldwell counties, including the cities of Pflugerville, Cedar Park, Driftwood, Elgin, and Wimberley.

For the last 44 years, the highly respected criminal defense law firm of Minton, Burton, Bassett & Collins, P.C., has defended the citizens of Central Texas against all kinds of criminal charges. Criminal defense is our mission and we have helped countless people get their lives back on track. Our experience encompasses felonies and misdemeanors, whether the crime was committed against a person, against property, or as part of a larger enterprise.

Generally, a crime punishable by imprisonment of less than one year is considered a misdemeanor. People convicted of misdemeanors are sentenced to local, city, or county jail. In contrast, felonies are more serious offenses and are punishable by imprisonment of one year or more in state or federal prison.

In Texas, felonies are arranged into five different categories: capital murder and felony in four degrees. Capital murder is the most serious charge a person can face and is punishable by death or by life in prison without parole. This charge is reserved for crimes where someone “intentionally or knowingly causes the death of an individual” under specific circumstances such as the murder of more than one person, a murder committed during the occurrence of certain other felonies, or the murder of a judicial official.

1. First degree felonies carry a sentence of 5 to 99 years or life in prison and a fine of not more than $10,000. First degree offenses include aggravated assault of a public servant, murder, arson (of a habitation or place of worship), possession of more than 200 grams of certain drugs, aggravated robbery, and aggravated kidnapping.
2. Second degree felonies carry a term of 2 to 20 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $10,000. Second degree felonies include burglary (with certain intent), sexual assault of a child, rape, vehicular manslaughter, and aggravated assault.
3. Third degree felonies carry a term of 2 to 10 years in prison and fine of not more than $10,000. Third degree felonies include domestic violence assault (if the person has a prior conviction of such), failure to register as a sex offender, stalking (if first offense) and third or subsequent DWIs.
4. Fourth degree felonies (also known as state jail felonies) carry a term of 180 days to 2 years in a state jail and a fine not to exceed $10,000. Fourth degree felonies include offenses such as possession of a small amount (less than one gram) of certain drugs and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.