Understanding The Classes Of New York Felony Charges

Some felonies are more severe than others.

In New York, felonies get classified into five categories from A to E. A is the most serious, and E is the least serious.

All felony convictions carry lifelong consequences, and you should throw as many of your resources as possible at defeating any felony charge. Nevertheless, knowing the differences between the different charges can be useful.

Page Contents

• Class E Felonies
• Class D Felonies
• Class C Felonies
• Class B Felonies
• Class A Felonies  
• Felony Plea Bargains
• Get Help Today

Class E Felonies

If your felony is charged as a Class E, you could face up to four years in prison, and face fines of up to $5,000 or double your gain from the offense, whichever is greater.

Class D Felonies

If your felony is charged as a Class D, you could face up to seven years in prison and face fines of up to $5,000 or double the amount of your gain from the offense, whichever is greater.

Class C Felonies

If your felony is charged as a Class C, you could face up to fifteen years in prison and face fines of up to $15,000 or double the amount of the gain from your offense, whichever is greater.

Class B Felonies

If your felony is charged as a Class B felony, you could face up to twenty-five years in prison and face fines of up to $30,000 or double the amount of the gain from your offense, whichever is higher.

Class A Felonies

If your felony is charged as a Class A felony, the potential sentence is life imprisonment without parole. Courts may also require you to pay fines of up to $100,000 or double the amount of gain from your offense, whichever is higher.

Felony Plea Bargains

One potential plea bargain tactic is to offer to let you plead guilty to a lesser felony to avoid the penalties of a greater felony.

For example, prosecutors might offer to let you plead guilty to a Class C felony drug offense instead of a class B felony drug offense, reducing your sentence by up to 10 years and knocking thousands of dollars off the number of fines you might potentially have to pay.

Would that be a good deal?

It depends on what’s going on with your case. There are cases where we’ve strongly advised our clients to take such a deal, and there are cases where we’ve counseled our clients to refuse the deal and proceed to trial. We can’t say what would be true in your specific case until you call us.

Get Help Today

If you or a loved one have been charged with any felony, you will need help from an experienced criminal defense lawyer.

Contact our office to get help today!

See also:

What is the Difference Between Probation and Parole in New York? 

Can a New York Plea Bargain Be Reversed? 

When Can You Be Accused of Resisting Arrest in New York?