A male lawyer addressing a jury in court.

Criminal Defense

Being charged with a crime of any type or size can be scary and stressful. With so much legal jargon and policies and procedures, it can be difficult to understand the process after you’ve been charged with a crime.

This is why it’s important to get legal representation immediately after being charged with any type of crime. Finding a lawyer like Todd Stramel, who is a well-versed criminal defense attorney, can provide you with the best chance of proving your innocence or lessening the repercussions of a criminal charge.

Potential Criminal Penalties in Kansas

Just as in any other state, the penalties for committing a crime in the state of Kansas will vary depending on the severity and type of crime that has been committed.

Crimes classified as misdemeanors can result in jail time of up to one year and fines up to $2,500. There are several classes of misdemeanors with varying degrees of severity and thus, different sentencing ranges. They are:

  • Class A misdemeanor – fine up to $2,500 and potential jail time of up to 1 year
  • Class B misdemeanor – fine up to $1,000 and potential jail time of up to 6 months
  • Class C misdemeanor – fine up to $500 and potential jail time of up to 30 days in jail
  • Unclassified misdemeanor – penalties vary depending on the crime

Felony charges will result in more severe consequences. On-grid felonies can result in a prison sentence up to 653 months for repeat offenders or severe crimes. Monetary fines for felony convictions can be up to $500,000.

Long Term Effects of Criminal Conviction

Besides the monetary and jail aspect of criminal convictions, you may not realize the impact of a conviction can extend for many years, even after serving time in jail or paying the fine required by a judge.

Convicted criminals may be prevented from being hired in certain career fields or by specific companies, as well as being denied by some educational and professional programs.

The truth is, a criminal conviction will have an impact on the rest of your life, no matter how big or small the crime. This is why it is especially important that you have legal representation on your side when you are first accused of committing a crime.

Stramel Law – An Experienced Western Kansas Criminal Defense Attorney

As soon as you have been arrested on criminal charges, an attorney with your best interests in mind is essential. Todd Stramel is an experienced criminal defense attorney who serves his clients across Western Kansas. He has represented both misdemeanor and felony cases with success. Todd provides effective representation to all of his clients, no matter the size of their cases. When you work with Stramel Law, you will always know the status of your case as Todd is forthright with his clients from the moment of arrest until the case is closed. Contact Stramel Law by phone: (785) 460-3222 or use email using our contact form.