Bogin, Munns & Munns P.A.
(855) 780-9986
(855) 780-9986
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Click Here to Request a Consultation
Bogin, Munns & Munns

Gainesville Felony Attorneys

Your legal issues need our expertise. With 40+ dynamic attorneys on staff, Bogin, Munns & Munns serves Central Florida’s legal needs and treats our clients like family.
4411 NW 8th Ave, Suite B, Gainesville, FL 32605 352-389-3755 View all Google Reviews here
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On This Page
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  1. How Can a Felony Charge Affect a College Student?
  2. What Are the Degrees of Felony in Florida?
  3. Can a Felony Be Reduced or Dismissed in Alachua County?
  4. How Is a Felony Sentence Calculated in Florida?
  5. What Rights and Opportunities Do You Lose With a Felony?
  6. Ready to Talk to a Gainesville Felony Attorney?
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For a University of Florida student or a young adult, a felony charge in Alachua County can jeopardize a degree, financial aid, and a future before it begins, which is why a Gainesville felony lawyer should be involved from the first day. We defend people charged with felonies throughout Alachua County from our office on NW 8th Avenue, building a defense while evidence is fresh and every option remains open.

Call our Gainesville office at 352-389-3755 for a confidential consultation.

How Can a Felony Charge Affect a College Student?

Kissimmee Juvenile Crime LawyerA felony charge can threaten a student’s enrollment, financial aid, and housing, sometimes before the criminal case is even resolved. A University of Florida student faces two parallel processes: the criminal court and the university’s own Student Conduct Code proceedings.

Certain convictions can affect eligibility for federal student aid, on-campus housing, and future professional licensing in fields like law, medicine, and education. A young person’s entire trajectory can turn on how the charge is handled.

We defend students and young adults with their long-term future in view, not just the immediate charge.

To consult with an experienced criminal misdemeanor & felony lawyer serving Gainesville
(855) 780-9986

What Are the Degrees of Felony in Florida?

Florida classifies felonies by degree, each with a different maximum sentence. Where a charge falls sets the exposure, but the outcome depends on the defense.

Felony Degree Maximum Prison Maximum Fine Examples
Third-degree Up to 5 years Up to $5,000 Drug possession, grand theft (lower value)
Second-degree Up to 15 years Up to $10,000 Aggravated battery, burglary of a dwelling
First-degree Up to 30 years Up to $10,000 Armed burglary, certain trafficking offenses
Life felony Up to life Up to $15,000 Certain violent and sexual offenses
Capital felony Life or death N/A First-degree murder

Many felony charges against young defendants are third-degree offenses, which are often the best candidates for a favorable resolution. We analyze your exact exposure before building the defense.

Can a Felony Be Reduced or Dismissed in Alachua County?

daytona-beach-fl-criminal-defense-lawyer-duiSometimes, yes. Depending on the charge, the evidence, and your record, a felony may be reduced to a lesser offense, dismissed on legal grounds, or resolved through a program that avoids a conviction.

For students and first-time offenders, avoiding a conviction is especially important, because a withhold of adjudication or a diversion outcome can preserve aid eligibility and future opportunities. The State Attorney’s Office in the 8th Judicial Circuit decides who is admitted to diversion, and having an attorney advocate for eligibility matters.

We pursue the outcome that protects both your record and your future.

Gainesville Criminal Misdemeanor & Felony Lawyer Near Me
(855) 780-9986

How Is a Felony Sentence Calculated in Florida?

Florida uses the Criminal Punishment Code, which applies a scoresheet to determine the lowest permissible sentence. Points are assigned for the current offense, prior record, victim injury, and other factors, and the total sets a minimum range.

For a young defendant with little or no prior record, the score is often low, which can open the door to non-prison resolutions. We prepare this analysis in every felony case. A conviction punishable by more than one year in prison also triggers a federal firearm prohibition that operates independently of state law. Florida’s state court system sets the procedural rules that govern how a felony case moves, and separate standards control sealing or expunging a criminal record.

Call 352-389-3755 or contact us online to discuss your charge.

What Rights and Opportunities Do You Lose With a Felony?

Clermont Juvenile Crime LawyerA felony conviction carries consequences that continue long after any sentence. Several are permanent unless formally restored.

A convicted felon in Florida can lose the right to vote until rights are restored, the right to possess a firearm, eligibility for many professional licenses, and access to certain jobs and housing. For students, a conviction can also affect financial aid and admission to graduate or professional programs. Avoiding the conviction itself is often the single most important goal.

Click to contact our Gainesville Felony Attorneys today

Ready to Talk to a Gainesville Felony Attorney?

A felony charge is not something to face alone, especially when a degree and a future hang in the balance. The decisions made in the first days after an arrest often shape everything that follows.

We defend felony charges in Gainesville, Alachua, Newberry, High Springs, and throughout Alachua County from our office at 4411 NW 8th Avenue, Suite B.

Bogin Munns & Munns also handles misdemeanor defense, DUI, drug charges, juvenile crime, and other criminal matters from 11 offices across Central Florida.

Call 352-389-3755 or contact our Gainesville office online for a felony defense consultation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • You may face two separate processes: the criminal case and the university’s Student Conduct Code review. They run on different timelines and standards. Contact a criminal defense attorney before speaking with investigators or conduct officials, because statements in one process can affect the other. We help students protect both their case and their enrollment.

  • It can, depending on the offense and the type of aid. Certain drug convictions and other felonies can affect eligibility for federal student aid and some scholarships. This is one reason avoiding a conviction, through dismissal, reduction, or diversion, is often the central goal for a student defendant rather than simply reducing a sentence.

  • A withhold of adjudication means the court does not formally convict you even if you plead or are found guilty, which can preserve certain rights and, in some cases, eligibility for record sealing. It is not available for every offense, but where it applies it can significantly protect a young person’s future. We pursue it when the facts allow.

  • Yes, in some cases. Charges can be dismissed when evidence was improperly obtained or the state lacks sufficient proof, and a charge can be reduced through negotiation. Whether any of these applies depends on the specific facts, which we evaluate at the start of the case.

  • A felony is punishable by more than one year in state prison, while a misdemeanor carries a maximum of one year in county jail. Felonies also bring lasting consequences a misdemeanor does not, including loss of voting and firearm rights. Some offenses can be charged either way depending on the circumstances and prior record.

  • Felony cases in the 8th Judicial Circuit typically take several months to over a year, depending on complexity, the evidence, and whether the case is negotiated or tried. For students, the timeline can overlap with academic terms, which we work to manage. We keep clients informed at each stage.

  • No. The University of Florida’s Student Conduct Code process is separate from the criminal court and can impose its own penalties, including suspension or expulsion, regardless of the criminal outcome. The two proceed independently, which is why a student facing a felony charge benefits from guidance that accounts for both.

  • Generally, a felony conviction cannot be expunged, though limited exceptions exist where charges were dismissed or resolved without a conviction. A withhold of adjudication can sometimes preserve eligibility for sealing. This is why the goal in a felony case is usually to avoid the conviction itself rather than rely on later record clearing.

  • Forcible felonies are violent offenses defined by Florida law, including murder, sexual battery, robbery, and aggravated assault. They are excluded from most diversion programs and often carry mandatory minimum sentences. A forcible felony charge changes the defense strategy significantly and makes experienced representation even more important.