Felony Charge Defense Lawyer in Baton Rouge, Louisiana


Carl Barkemeyer is a felony defense lawyer in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He provides a tough and aggressive defense representation to those charged with felonies in Baton Rouge and surrounding areas.  



Call 225-964-6720


Felony Charges in Baton Rouge, Louisiana


When being charged, tried, and convicted of a crime in the United States, including Louisiana, there are two different levels of crime that can be applied to your case. The first level is known as a misdemeanor. Misdemeanors are the lower level of crime and are usually known as the less serious and less penalized level. These misdemeanor charges can include crimes such as simple assault, simple theft, reckless driving, drug paraphernalia, and many more. Misdemeanor crimes tend to have lighter sentences and decreased penalties because they are the lower severity crimes. The second level of crimes that you can be convicted of are defined as felonies. Felonies are the more serious crimes that usually involve more bodily injury, putting people in harm’s way and endangering lives. However, there are some felony crimes that don’t involve dangering lives and are still considered more serious. Some examples of felony crimes in Louisiana include fraud, forgery, aggravated assault, rape, murder, and many more. Felonies will carry much stricter punishments than misdemeanors and almost always have a minimum prison sentence. If you are convicted of a crime in Louisiana, whether it be a misdemeanor or felony, it is highly recommended to reach out for legal assistance immediately. Carl Barkemeyer is a highly experienced criminal defense attorney who has been defending felony cases for many years and has found success in defending them. Mr. Barkemeyer and his legal team can aid you in crafting a defense for your felony case that will be tailored to your exact circumstances and can potentially lessen your penalties for the accused crime. Contact us as soon as possible for legal assistance in your felony case.


What is a felony?


A felony is a crime that has been deemed as a very serious and dangerous crime that often puts other citizens in the public into danger. Felonies are the higher level of crimes as compared to misdemeanors and usually also carry heftier penalties and more stringent punishments than misdemeanor crimes. The exact definition of a felony in Louisiana is not setup as categories like in many other states. In Louisiana, a felony is considered as any crime for which you can be punished for over one year in prison. This sets a precedent that the more serious crimes which carry jail time are considered as felonies. The list of felonies in Louisiana includes crimes such as:


-           Drugs

-           DWI/DUI third and fourth offense

-           Fraud

-           Forgery

-           Robbery

-           Burglary

-           Rape

-           Murder

-           Sexual assault

-           Theft crimes including armed robbery, theft of more than $500, and burglary

-           Kidnapping

-           Treason

-           Arson


All of these crimes will be considered as felonies in court and punishable by at least one year in prison as well as many high amounts of fines. For these reasons, being charged with a felony should not be taken lightly and it is important to fight for your freedom during the court trial.


What are the punishments?


The punishments and penalties for being convicted of a felony charge in Louisiana are very wide-ranging depending on which specific crime you are suspected of committing. However, the one commonality between all the penalties of felonies in Louisiana is that they will carry a minimum prison sentence that can drastically increase depending on the severity of the crime that you committed. Some different examples of punishments for felony crimes include:


Second degree murder:


-           Whoever commits the crime of second-degree murder shall be punished by life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.






First degree rape:

-           Whoever commits the crime of aggravated rape shall be punished by life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. However, if the victim was under the age of thirteen years: Capital Punishment. The district attorney may seek capital punishment, the offender shall be punished by death or life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence, in accordance with the determination of the jury.

All of these penalties are very severe because of how serious and heinous the crimes may be. Since these crimes are all considered felonies, they will have much more stringent punishment if found guilty and should be taken very seriously when trying to defend yourself in court.


How can we help?


Because felonies are such serious crimes in Louisiana and the United States, it is highly recommended to have a very knowledgeable criminal defense attorney at your side during the trial. Carl Barkemeyer has been defending felony cases for many years in Louisiana and specifically the Baton Rouge area. He has extensive experience with the Louisiana legal system and can help you by crafting a defense for your case that could potentially result in a more positive outcome for you and your family. Mr. Barkemeyer will look at all the evidence involved and tailor the defense to your specific case so that you can have the best chance at possibly decreasing the penalties that come along with felony charges. It is important to understand what felony crime you are being charged with and what the crime entails so that the best possible defense can be mounted. Felonies carry very stringent penalties along with them so it is important to seek legal aid immediately. Most people cannot afford to pay the hefty fines or afford to lose years of their life spent in prison. For the safety of you and your loved ones, it is imperative that you can successfully fight for your freedom in court. If you have recently been charged with a felony crime in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, contact us at (225) 964-6720 for legal assistance immediately on your case.

"Great attorney - very detailed and knowledgeable.