Cincinnati Felony Defense Attorney

Being charged with a felony in Ohio can feel overwhelming. Felonies carry severe penalties, including imprisonment, hefty fines, and a lasting criminal record. The impact of a felony conviction can extend beyond jail time, affecting your career, relationships, and future opportunities. To protect your rights, your first step should be to get a Cincinnati felony defense attorney on your side.

Our experienced Cincinnati criminal defense attorneys at Luftman, Heck & Associates will fight for your rights and ensure that every avenue of defense is explored. Contact us today at (513) 338-1890 to learn how our team is dedicated to defending your rights.

Levels of Ohio Criminal Charges

Ohio has several levels of crime. The state categorizes offenses as infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies.

• Infractions – Infractions are the least severe type of offense in Ohio’s criminal system. These minor violations typically result in fines and do not involve jail time. Examples of infractions include traffic tickets and certain city code violations.
• Misdemeanors – Misdemeanors are more serious than infractions but less severe than felonies, often involving penalties such as jail time of up to 180 days and fines up to $1,000. Common misdemeanors include petty theft, minor drug offenses, and simple assault. While less serious than felonies, misdemeanors can still have lasting effects on your record and future opportunities.
• Felonies – Felonies are the most serious crimes, carrying severe punishments like lengthy prison sentences and substantial fines. Ohio classifies felonies into five degrees, ranging from first to fifth, with additional penalties for unclassified felonies, such as murder. Convictions can lead to life-altering consequences, impacting your rights, employment prospects, and personal life.

Ohio Felony Degrees & Potential Penalties

Understanding the penalties associated with each felony degree can help you see the stakes involved in your defense:

Unclassified Felonies

Ohio’s most serious offenses, including murder and aggravated murder, with penalties of life imprisonment or the death penalty. When a prosecutor can seek the death penalty for a crime, it is known as a capital offense.

First-Degree Felonies

Severe crimes like manslaughter, kidnapping, sex crimes, and large-scale drug trafficking. Penalties range from three to 11 years in prison and up to $20,000 in fines.

Second-Degree Felonies

This degree of felonies includes many violent crimes, certain drug offenses, and aggravated theft, with two to eight years in prison and fines up to $15,000.

Third-Degree Felonies

Certain violent, drug, and property crimes are third-degree felonies. These felonies are punishable by nine months or up to five years in prison and pay fines reaching $10,000.

Fourth-Degree Felonies

This degree of felonies includes unlawful sexual misconduct with a minor, vehicular assault, and grand theft auto. If convicted of a fourth-degree felony, you may spend between six and 18 months in prison and fined up to $5,000.

Fifth-Degree Felonies

This is the lowest degree of felony crimes and includes simple possession of Schedule I and II drugs, illegal gambling, and breaking and entering. These crimes can be punished with between six and 12 months in prison and $2,500 in fines.

Additional Penalties for Felony Convictions in Ohio

There are certain additional sanctions that the court may impose upon conviction of a felony. Beyond imprisonment and fines, felony convictions can bring additional sanctions such as:

• Residential sanctions: During residential sanctions, you are not housed in a prison or jail. You live in another type of facility such as a community-based correctional facilities or a halfway house, where your freedom is heavily restricted.
• Non-residential sanctions: This sanction includes probation, community service, drug and alcohol monitoring and treatment, victim-offender mediation, counseling, and sex offender registration.
• Financial sanctions: The convicted will be required to reimburse the cost to victims or pay restitution.

Life After a Felony Conviction in Cincinnati

A felony conviction can leave a lasting mark long after any sentence. You may face ongoing challenges that make moving forward difficult.

• Employment Barriers – Background checks and licensing restrictions can limit opportunities in fields involving trust, finance, or safety.
• Housing Restrictions – Public housing may be unavailable; private landlords can deny applicants with records. Some offenses carry residency restrictions.
• Civil Rights – In Ohio, incarcerated felons lose voting rights during incarceration and are prohibited from possessing firearms.
• Immigration Issues – Non-citizens can face deportation or denial of benefits or naturalization.
• Family Court Impact – Custody/visitation can be restricted or supervised depending on the case facts.
• Reputation & Stigma – Public records can affect personal and professional relationships.

Some collateral consequences can be mitigated through record sealing/expungement where permitted, compliance with post-release conditions, and strategic reentry planning.

How Felony Convictions in Cincinnati Impact Life After Release

A felony conviction can extend its effects well beyond serving time or paying fines. A felony conviction in Cincinnati can impact every aspect of your life.

Probation Violations

After released, many convicted felons face probation periods with strict requirements. Violating any term of probation – such as missing appointments, failing drug tests, or committing even minor infractions – can lead to serious consequences.

These consequences can include additional prison time, heightened probation terms, or new charges. Probation violations can add significant time and restrictions to an individual’s sentence, creating further setbacks to rebuilding their life.

Loss of Gun Rights

Ohio law prohibits convicted felons from legally owning or possessing firearms, regardless of the conviction’s age or the offense’s nature. Being caught with a firearm as a felon is a serious offense and can lead to additional criminal charges, lengthy prison sentences, and steep fines. For individuals who previously used firearms for personal protection, hunting, or hobbies, this restriction can be both personally and practically challenging.

Employment Challenges

Securing employment after a felony conviction is often one of the most difficult hurdles to overcome, as many employers conduct background checks and may hesitate to hire individuals with criminal records. Positions that require security clearances, financial handling, or professional licenses are frequently off-limits to felons, leaving a limited job pool. Even if job qualifications are met, social stigma can make the search for stable work long and discouraging, leading to financial and personal setbacks.

Educational Limitations

Pursuing education post-conviction may be challenging, especially in obtaining financial aid or acceptance into specific programs. Federal student aid programs often exclude individuals with felony drug convictions, which can severely impact funding for higher education.

When you are facing felony charges in the Cincinnati area, the best thing you can do for yourself is to call an Ohio felony defense attorney from Luftman, Heck & Associates.

Felony Charges We Handle at Luftman, Heck & Associates

Our attorneys defend a wide range of felony allegations in Hamilton County and across Southern Ohio. Below are common charges we handle and how we approach them:

• Arson & Aggravated Arson – Origin analysis, accelerant testing review, expert fire-causation challenges, and insurance-motive defenses.
• Vandalism – Property valuation disputes, ownership/consent issues, and restitution-focused resolutions to minimize felony exposure.
• Criminal Mischief – Intent and damage-amount challenges; diversion and community-service alternatives where eligible.
• Assault & Aggravated Assault – Self-defense and defense-of-others assertions, eyewitness reliability attacks, medical causation reviews, and video forensics.
• Domestic Violence – No-contact orders, recantation analysis, 911/BodyCam scrutiny, and parallel family-court strategy to protect parental rights.
• Drug Possession – Fourth Amendment suppression motions, lab testing verification, and treatment-based outcomes.
• Drug Trafficking – Confidential informant credibility, search warrants, constructive possession, and quantity-weight disputes.
• Drug Manufacturing – Lab/equipment source challenges, chemical testing audits, and federal-overlap risk management.
• DUI/OVI (Felony) – Prior-conviction accuracy, blood/breath/urine testing defenses, license consequences, and interlock strategy.
• Kidnapping – Consent/elements challenges, restraint vs. movement analysis, and lesser-included offense negotiations.
• Abduction – Intent and asportation proof issues; factual-context mitigation to reduce degree or penalties.
• Vehicular Homicide – Accident reconstruction, toxicology review, mechanical defect defenses, and sentencing mitigation.
• Public Indecency – Intent and exposure elements; registration avoidance where possible.
• Resisting Arrest – Lawfulness of the underlying stop, force reasonableness, and BodyCam/audio analysis.
• Robbery – Identification reliability, weapon/force elements, and property-value proof.
• Burglary – Intent-to-commit-a-crime disputes, entry/privilege issues, and forensic trace evidence challenges.
• Grand Theft – Valuation disputes, ownership/consent defenses, and restitution-first resolutions.
• Hit and Run – Driver identification, damage-causation, and reporting obligations; insurance-driven mitigation.

FAQs About Felony Charges in Cincinnati, Ohio

What Should I Do If I’m Arrested for a Felony in Ohio?

Stay calm, don’t resist, and do not answer questions. Invoke your right to remain silent and request a lawyer. Contact a Cincinnati felony defense attorney immediately so your rights are protected from the start.

Can a Felony Conviction Be Expunged or Sealed in Ohio?

Some non-violent fourth- and fifth-degree felonies may be eligible for sealing/expungement after all terms are completed and waiting periods met. Cases involving children or sex-related crimes are typically ineligible. Sealing hides the case from most public background checks and can improve employment and housing prospects. Ask our team to evaluate your eligibility.

How Does a Felony Conviction Affect My Gun Rights?

Felony convictions generally prohibit firearm possession. Limited restoration may be possible through a court process after demonstrating rehabilitation and lawful need. We assess eligibility and prepare supporting materials.

Will I Be Eligible for Probation after a Felony?

Eligibility depends on the offense degree, facts (e.g., weapons, injury), and prior record. Lower-degree, non-violent felonies are more likely candidates. Some offenses carry mandatory prison terms. We argue mitigating factors to maximize community-control options.

Can My Felony Be Reduced to a Misdemeanor?

In some cases, yes—through plea negotiations or by undermining key elements (intent, identity, weight/value, or suppression of unlawfully obtained evidence). Early intervention increases leverage.

How Soon Should I Contact an Attorney?

Immediately—ideally as soon as you learn you’re under investigation. Early counsel helps control communications, preserve evidence, and position your case for the best possible outcome.

What Is an Arraignment and Do I Need a Lawyer There?

Arraignment is your first court appearance where charges are read and initial pleas and bond are addressed. Having counsel present can affect release conditions and protect you from making harmful statements.

What Are Common Defenses to Felony Charges?

Defenses include lack of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, constitutional violations (illegal search/seizure, coerced statements), mistaken identity, self-defense/defense of others, lack of intent, alibi, and forensic/lab errors. We tailor strategy to the unique facts and evidence in your case.

How Long Will My Case Take?

Timelines vary with complexity, motion practice, discovery volume, and trial posture. Some resolve in months; others can take a year or more. We keep you informed and move proactively to seek efficient, favorable results.

Can LHA Help with Reentry After a Felony?

Yes. We counsel clients on sealing eligibility, compliance, employment and licensing responses, and community resources, and we provide practical guidance to reduce collateral harm after the case concludes.

Cincinnati Reentry Resources for People with Felony Convictions

Rebuilding is hard. Our free Cincinnati Reentry Resource Guide can help with:

• Employment Programs – Job training and placement support.
• Transitional Housing – Safe, short-term options while you stabilize.
• Parenting & Counseling Support – Family reconnection and life-skills resources.

Facing a Felony in Cincinnati? Contact LHA Today

If you’ve been charged with a felony, your situation may seem daunting. Don’t navigate felony charges alone. Reach out to Attorney Brad Groene and our compassionate and experienced team at Luftman, Heck & Associates. We have years of experience defending people in Cincinnati against criminal charges.

Contact us at (513) 338-1890 for a free initial consultation on your Cincinnati criminal case and explore your options.