Charlotte Felony Lawyer

Experienced Felony Attorney in Charlotte, NC

Being charged with a felony is serious and can have significant and long-lasting effects on the rest of your life. A conviction can come with legal penalties like jail time and fines, but there are also other social and economic consequences, such as preclusion from certain jobs and reputational damage. If you find yourself facing felony charges, enlist the help of a Charlotte felony lawyer for legal support and to help you defend your rights. 

About Steven T. Meier, PLLC

Felony charges come with high stakes, and when your future is on the line, you need legal support from a knowledgeable and experienced Charlotte criminal defense lawyer. At Steven T. Meier, PLLC, we support all of our clients with the empathy, respect, and compassion they deserve. We bring decades of experience that we apply to every case we take on. No matter what legal challenges you are facing, we are prepared to stand beside you every step of the way.

What Is a Felony?

A felony is a criminal charge that is punishable by state imprisonment or death. All other crimes are misdemeanors. Felonies are serious marks on a person’s criminal record. These types of convictions can disqualify an individual from working for certain companies or in certain lines of work. Felonies may also affect a person’s housing prospects, as many landlords do not rent to a person with a felony conviction on their record.

The following are some examples of felony offenses in North Carolina:

• Murder and manslaughter: Murder or homicide of any classification is always a felony offense. In 2025, there were 96 homicides in Charlotte.
• Rape: Rape and other violent sexual crimes are usually charged as felonies. In 2024, there were 252 reported rapes in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
• Armed robbery: Armed robbery, unlike simple theft or other lesser property crimes, is a felony. The reason this crime is considered more serious, even if no one is hurt, is that the presence of a weapon brings an element of violence into the situation.
• Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon: Simple assault is usually a misdemeanor, but if the victim is seriously injured or if there is a deadly weapon involved, it can be charged as a felony.
• Serious drug offenses: Some drug offenses are misdemeanors, whereas others are felonies. For example, according to C. Gen. Stat. § 90-95(d)(1), possession of a Schedule I controlled substance is usually an automatic felony in North Carolina.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of potential felony offenses in North Carolina. In general, felonies are serious crimes, and the consequences can stay with a person for the rest of their life.

Potential Penalties for a Felony in Charlotte

Penalties for felonies can range from community service and fines to probation and prison time. Possible punishments depend on the exact nature of the crime in question and the convicted person’s prior record. North Carolina uses a felony sentencing grid that gives judges prescribed mitigated, presumptive, and aggravated penalty ranges. These terms are defined below:

• Mitigated: A mitigated offense is one in which there is at least one mitigating factor present. Mitigating factors are aspects of the offense or situation that lend themselves to a more lenient sentence. Examples of mitigating factors include provocation on the part of the victim, mental illness on the part of the offender, or the offender being particularly young and vulnerable.
• Presumptive: The presumptive range given in the sentencing chart is the range that applies if there are no mitigating or aggravating factors present, or if the mitigating and aggravating factors cancel each other out.
• Aggravated: An aggravated offense is one in which there is at least one factor that supports a harsher sentence for the offender. Some examples of aggravating factors include unusual or particularly egregious violence or vulnerability of the victim.

Some examples of North Carolina felony penalties are listed below:

• Class A felony: A Class A felony is the most serious felony level reserved for murder offenses. In North Carolina, a Class A felony is punishable by either the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole. If the offender was under the age of 18 at the time of the offense, the possible sentences are life in prison without the possibility of parole or life in prison with the possibility of parole.
• Class B felony: There are two tiers of Class B felonies: B1 and B2. For a Class B1 felony, such as first-degree rape, prison sentences can range from 12 years to life without parole, depending on the offender’s prior record and any aggravating or mitigating factors. A Class B2 felony, such as second-degree murder, can carry a sentence of 94 to 484 months.
• Class C felony: First-degree kidnapping can be charged as a Class C felony in North Carolina. This class of felony is punishable by 44 to 231 months in prison.

When Should You Hire a Felony Lawyer?

If you have been charged with any kind of felony, or even if charges have not yet been filed against you, but you suspect they are going to be, you should hire a felony lawyer immediately. Bringing a competent attorney into the situation as quickly as possible can give you several advantages throughout the criminal justice process. Some of the benefits of having a qualified Charlotte felony attorney are listed below:

• Legal insight: At every stage of the criminal justice process, even during the initial investigation, it is advantageous for you to have an attorney’s insight into what is happening in your case. Your lawyer can help you understand your legal position and what law enforcement or the prosecution is trying to accomplish.
• Protecting your rights: Law enforcement officers are required to adhere to procedural rules when investigating a crime. If police officers fail to follow protocol, this may constitute a violation of your rights. A seasoned attorney can watch for such violations and argue for the inadmissibility of illegally procured evidence.
• Challenges to the prosecution’s case: During the initial stages of the criminal justice process, lawyers for both the prosecution and the defense are required to share their pertinent evidence with each other. This process is called discovery. During the discovery phase, a skilled attorney may be able to point out inconsistencies or a lack of evidence from the prosecution. In some cases, this results in reduced charges or dropped charges.

FAQs

Is Possession of Marijuana a Felony in North Carolina?

Whether or not possession of marijuana is a felony in North Carolina depends on the amount of marijuana in question. Possession of an amount that does not exceed 1.5 ounces is usually charged as a misdemeanor, while possession of more than 1.5 ounces is a Class I felony. Class I felonies are punishable by three to 24 months in prison, depending on aggravating or mitigating factors and the offender’s prior criminal record.

Are All Felonies Punished by Mandatory Jail Time in North Carolina?

No. A felony conviction in North Carolina does not always mean an automatic prison sentence. Some offenses may instead be punished by fines, community service, or probation as a judge sees fit. Some more serious felonies, such as murder, always come with mandatory jail sentences. If you have questions about your specific situation, your attorney can provide some valuable insight.

How Much Does a Felony Lawyer Cost in Charlotte?

The cost to hire a felony attorney to represent you in Charlotte can vary significantly depending on the particulars of your case. More complex cases require more of an attorney’s time, so the total legal expenses tend to be higher than in simpler cases. Usually, attorneys require an up-front deposit, known as a retainer, to begin working with a client.

What Court Handles Felony Cases in Charlotte?

If the offense in question was committed in Charlotte, the case is likely to be handled by the North Carolina Superior Court for Mecklenburg County. This court is housed in the Mecklenburg County Courthouse, which is located at 832 E. 4^th Street in Charlotte. If the case involves federal charges, it may be handled by a federal court in a different location.

Can an Attorney Successfully Defend Me Against Felony Charges in Charlotte?

It is very possible for a skilled defense attorney to mount a successful defense against felony charges in Charlotte. Experienced lawyers with a deep familiarity with North Carolina’s laws can support their clients by crafting a compelling defense based on the facts of the case. No two cases are the same, and no attorney can fully control the outcome of a case, but a seasoned and confident lawyer can be an invaluable asset in the courtroom.

Contact Steven T. Meier, PLLC

If you find yourself facing felony charges in Charlotte, you may be feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or anxious about your future. These are all natural feelings to experience in the face of serious legal challenges. However, you should know that you do not have to navigate the coming months alone. At Steven T. Meier, PLLC, we are ready to support and advocate for you throughout the criminal justice process. Contact us to discuss your case.