Felony Defense
Felony Defense Attorneys Serving Island County & Washington
A felony allegation can place your freedom, record, career, firearm rights and future at risk. The investigation, charging decision and pretrial process can move quickly, making careful preparation important from the beginning.
Platt, Thompson & Buescher represents clients facing serious state and federal allegations, including homicide, assault, sex offenses, robbery, burglary, drug crimes, weapons charges, white-collar matters and other complex felonies.
What Is at Stake
When the stakes are highest, every fact and every legal issue matters.
Washington classifies felonies as class A, B or C offenses. The statutory maximum can range from five years to life imprisonment, while the actual sentence in a particular case may depend on the offense, criminal history, enhancements and other sentencing rules.
A felony case can also affect employment, military service, immigration, professional licensing, firearm rights, housing and family responsibilities. Early work may help preserve evidence and identify legal issues before the case is fully developed.
Immediate concerns may include
- Pretrial release and court-ordered conditions
- Possible prison, jail and financial penalties
- Employment, military or professional consequences
- Firearm and voting-rights consequences
- Immigration and travel concerns
- Public reputation and family responsibilities
Understanding Felony Cases
Serious charges require a defense built for the full case.
Felony cases can involve extensive investigation, forensic evidence, expert testimony, search warrants, digital records and complicated sentencing exposure.
01
Felony classifications
Washington generally classifies felonies as class A, class B or class C offenses.
- Class A felonies may carry a maximum of life imprisonment and a $50,000 fine.
- Class B felonies may carry a maximum of 10 years and a $20,000 fine.
- Class C felonies may carry a maximum of five years and a $10,000 fine.
02
The evidence may be complex
A serious case may involve witness statements, forensic testing, digital records, surveillance, search warrants, expert opinions, financial materials or evidence collected by multiple agencies.
The defense must evaluate both what the evidence appears to show and whether it was lawfully obtained and reliably interpreted.
03
State and federal exposure
Some allegations can be investigated or charged in state court, federal court or both, particularly when conduct involves federal property, interstate activity, firearms, controlled substances or financial offenses.
The applicable court, charging authority and procedural rules can significantly affect the defense strategy.
Statutory maximums are not predictions of a particular sentence. Charging and sentencing depend on the facts, applicable statutes and criminal history.
Felony Matters We Handle
Prepared defense for serious and complex criminal allegations.
The firm handles major felony cases from the investigation stage through motions, negotiation and trial.
Homicide and Manslaughter
Defense of murder, manslaughter and other allegations involving a death, including cases requiring forensic and expert review.
Serious Assault and Violent Offenses
Representation in first-, second- and third-degree assault cases, robbery, kidnapping and other allegations involving claimed force or injury.
Sex Offenses
Discreet defense in felony sex-offense cases involving witness credibility, digital evidence, forensic evidence and registration consequences.
Drug and Trafficking Cases
Defense of possession, delivery, manufacturing, conspiracy and trafficking allegations in state or federal court.
Weapons and Firearm Cases
Representation involving unlawful possession, firearm enhancements, prohibited places, alleged use of a weapon and related federal issues.
Financial and White-Collar Cases
Defense in fraud, theft, embezzlement and other document-intensive allegations involving financial or business records.
Trial-Ready Defense
A serious accusation is not a conviction.
The prosecution must prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt with admissible and reliable evidence. The defense may challenge searches, statements, identification procedures, expert opinions, forensic testing, witness credibility or the legal sufficiency of the charge.
Our attorneys prepare serious cases with trial in mind. That preparation can strengthen motions and negotiations while preserving the ability to present a clear defense to a jury when necessary.
The higher the stakes, the more important disciplined preparation becomes.
Our Process
How we approach a felony defense.
The defense plan should reflect the charge, evidence, immediate risks and the client’s priorities.
01
Address immediate risks
We review release conditions, no-contact or firearm orders, court dates, employment concerns and other urgent issues.
02
Collect and organize evidence
We seek police reports, video, witness information, forensic records, digital data, expert materials and other available evidence.
03
Test the prosecution’s case
We examine searches, statements, identification, scientific evidence, witness credibility and whether the facts establish each charged element.
04
Prepare the path forward
We develop a strategy for motions, negotiation, trial or another resolution based on the law, evidence and client’s goals.
Your Team
Attorneys who handle serious felony matters.
Get Started
Speak with an experienced felony-defense attorney.
A consultation can help you understand the allegation, immediate risks and the defense issues that may shape the case.
180 NW Coveland St, Coupeville, WA 98239 · reception@plattbuescher.com