If you are in Philadelphia and charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, a Philadelphia criminal defense lawyer from our office wants to help. Our legal team can investigate the charges against you and take all necessary and appropriate legal action to protect you.
The consequences of having another conviction on your record could be devastating for both you and your family. You may find it much easier, both physically and psychologically, to put your case in the hands of a defense attorney from our firm. We can fight hard on your behalf to get the charges reduced or dismissed.
Penalties of Illegal Possession of a Firearm in Philadelphia
18 Pa. C.S.A. outlines the types of penalties an individual may face if charged with a crime like illegal possession of a firearm. For example, there are:
- Monetary penalties: The judge may impose a variety of fines and fees against you. These fines will be determined by the nature of your crime, not your ability or inability to afford them.
- Time behind bars: Going to jail or prison could cost you your job, your mental health, and your relationship with loved ones.
- Probation: Even after you have served your sentence, the judge may assign a probation officer to monitor your movements and determine if you are at risk of committing another crime.
Penalties a convicted felon may face if caught in possession of a firearm depend on whether they are charged with a felony or misdemeanor. Felonies are more serious than misdemeanors and therefore come with more serious penalties. A criminal defense lawyer from our Philadelphia office would like to help you avoid these penalties, no matter the specifics of the charges against you.
For a free legal consultation with a possession of a firearm by a convicted felon lawyer serving Philadelphia, call 215.515.3360
How We Defend Against Firearms Possession Charges
Law Offices of M.J. Snyder, LLC. does not want to see you unfairly convicted of a crime. Our criminal defense team can work with you to ensure that you have the best defense and, ultimately, are released as soon as possible with the lightest possible penalties.
Our legal team can fight for you in the following ways:
- Negotiating a plea: With a plea deal, you agree to plead guilty to a less serious charge than the one you were originally charged with. You can then avoid the possibility of being forced to serve a harsh sentence.
- Getting charges reduced: Like negotiating a plea, getting the charges reduced means that you face a lighter penalty. However, unlike a plea, you still have the opportunity to fight for an acquittal and go home without facing any penalties.
- Getting charges dismissed: When we find evidence of police or prosecutorial error or find that the prosecution’s case is particularly thin, we can ask them to drop the charges against you. You can then go home right away.
- Representing you in court: If your case ends up in court, you can depend on us to defend you to the fullest extent possible. This may involve submitting motions to suppress and fighting against certain evidence, questioning witnesses, and filing legal motions.
- Filing an appeal: If the jury does not find in your favor, this is not necessarily the end of the road. We can appeal your case by pointing out inconsistencies or errors that occurred during your first trial.
How a Criminal Defense Lawyer Can Help with Your Case
Facing gun charges is always difficult, but it can be especially so if you are a convicted felon who stands to lose a great deal if convicted of another crime. Our legal team knows what a challenging time this is. We want to help you by:
- Responding to your questions in a timely fashion, even if you call during off-hours
- Providing honest, realistic advice about your options and chances for success
- Updating you promptly whenever there are significant developments in the case
- Having knowledge of the most up-to-date case law for motions to suppress
- Handling the “small” but necessary administrative tasks associated with your case (e.g., paperwork) in addition to the “big” tasks of defending you in court
The sooner we can begin building your criminal defense case, the more time we may have to collect crucial evidence and build a strong defense.
Philadelphia Possession of a Firearm By a Convicted Felon Lawyer 215.515.3360
Criminal Offense Convictions that Prohibit Felons from Possessing Firearms
In Pennsylvania, the law regulating who may and may not own a firearm is found at 18 Pa. C.S.A § 6105. Those prohibited from owning, using, selling, or possessing a firearm include individuals convicted of:
- Murder or manslaughter
- Rape or sexual assault
- Other gun charges
- Robbery or burglary
- Arson
- Possession with the Intent to Deliver
If a convicted felon fails to relinquish their firearms within the legally specified timeframe (usually 60 days), they may be charged with a misdemeanor. Otherwise, a convicted felon caught (or allegedly caught) in possession of a firearm may be charged with a felony.
Types of Evidence We Gather to Fight Charges of Firearm Possession
To avoid being convicted of illegal possession of a firearm, our criminal defense law firm can gather various forms of evidence to strengthen your “not guilty” plea. Depending on the circumstances of your case, this evidence may include:
- Police reports: The official reports concerning your case can give us solid leads on where to find other evidence. In addition, a careful reading of such reports can ensure that the police did not violate your rights—or, if they did, how.
- Eyewitnesses: We can speak to those who were present at the time when you allegedly possessed a firearm. We may expose inconsistencies or gaps in their stories.
- Audiovisual footage: For example, surveillance or cell phone cameras may have caught a critical event on tape. This footage could prove that you did not possess a firearm at any point.
We know the best ways of requesting and acquiring such evidence. This is one more task that we can perform on your behalf, taking the burden of defense off your shoulders.
Learn More About Your Legal Options During a Free Consultation Today
Law Offices of M.J. Snyder, LLC. provides legal services to those in the Philadelphia area. If you are a convicted felon who has been charged with illegal possession of a firearm, let a lawyer from our office start working on your behalf as soon as possible. Call us at (215) 515-3360 to learn more via a free, no-obligation consultation.
