Whether you have been accused of petty theft, assault, or murder, you have the right to defend yourself when facing criminal charges. The potential penalties you will face depend on the type of crime you have been accused of. You need highly skilled Indianapolis criminal defense lawyers on your side to help you clear your name of these devastating allegations.

Our criminal lawyers at The Nice Law Firm can offer perspective and help you craft the most powerful defense strategy possible. Utilize our resources to protect your liberties and get back to your life sooner. With over 30 years of experience navigating the criminal justice system, our skills are unmatched. Gain insight into what your future may hold if you are convicted and which defenses are most likely to secure a favorable outcome when you contact our office to request a confidential consultation.

Why Go With The Nice Law Firm

Choosing the right criminal lawyer could make all the difference in the outcome of your case. When your freedom is on the line, having our highly experienced criminal attorneys advocating for you could make it possible for you to get back to your family sooner. When you choose The Nice Law Firm, you get:

  • 24/7 availability, so we are here when you need us most
  • More than 30 years of criminal defense experience
  • A strong track record of acquittals and dismissals
  • Legal representation built on relationships with other advocates within the Indiana criminal justice system

We Handle Most Types of Criminal Cases in Indianapolis

You need a criminal defense lawyer on your side who has handled cases similar to yours. When The Nice Law Firm is working on your case after you have been arrested, you can feel confident, as we have decades of experience handling a wide variety of criminal matters, including:

DUIs 

Indiana has strict penalties for driving under the influence (DUI) per Indiana Code 9-30-5-1, in part due to the fact that there are so many instances of drunk driving. In fact, in 2023, there were more than 2,700 DUIs reported across the state according to WRTV Indianapolis. If you are charged with driving under the influence, you can expect increasingly severe penalties with each subsequent conviction. 

While first-time offenders could be subject to suspension of their driver’s licenses for up to two years, as much as one year in jail, and fines not to exceed $5,000, the penalties are more serious if you have multiple DUIs on your record. Habitual offenders could spend years in prison, pay up to $10,000 in fines, and have their driver’s licenses suspended for years or even for life.

White Collar Crimes

Our criminal defense attorneys have spent years defending those accused of white-collar crimes. White-collar crimes do not traditionally involve severe bodily injury or death, but there are still victims. When individuals are victimized by financial crimes or fraud, their entire lives could be turned upside down. If you are charged with any of the following white-collar offenses, the penalties could be severe:

Federal Crimes

You may need help from a criminal attorney if you are charged with a crime at the federal level. These types of cases are processed by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and may involve the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), or other powerful government agencies. 

When charges are prosecuted at the federal level, the penalties are far more severe. Whether you are charged with a drug crime, white-collar offense, or RICO crimes, you can expect increased prison time if you are convicted. Furthermore, you may be sentenced to time in a federal prison. In Indiana, there are only three federal prisons:

  • The USP Terre Haute – This is a high-security all-male prison that houses close to 1300 inmates.
  • FCI Terre Haute – The Federal Correctional Institution Terre Haute is considered a medium-security prison housing just under 1000 male inmates.
  • FCI Terre Haute Camp – The Federal Correctional Institution Terre Haute Camp is the minimum security prison section that houses just under 250 male inmates.

The possible penalties you will face will depend on the severity of the charges against you. Most charges prosecuted in federal court are considered felonies. Here are the sentences associated with a federal conviction based on the felony class as described by the U.S. Sentencing Commission:

  • Class A felony – The death penalty or life in a federal prison facility
  • Class B felony – A minimum of 25 years In a federal prison facility
  • Class C felony – A maximum of 25 years in a federal prison facility
  • Class D felony – A maximum of 10 years in a federal prison facility
  • Class E felony – A maximum of five years in a federal prison facility

Our Indianapolis criminal lawyers will work tirelessly to ensure your criminal charges stay at the state level. That way, we could potentially plead you down to a less serious offense or get the charges against you dismissed altogether.

Property Crimes

Property crimes do not involve serious bodily injury or death, but they do involve theft of products or services or destruction of property. Depending on the value of the services or items in question, you could be charged at the misdemeanor or felony level. For this reason, property crimes in Indiana are often considered wobbler offenses. Your criminal defense attorney should have extensive experience handling all the following types of property crimes:

If aggravating factors are present, such as the use of a deadly weapon, the charges against you could be elevated or stacked depending on the circumstances of your case and whether you’re in Indianapolis criminal lawyer can convince the prosecutor to focus on rehabilitation as opposed to prosecution.

Generally, if you are found guilty of a Class A misdemeanor property crime, where the property value is less than $750, you could spend up to one year in prison and pay fines of up to $5,000. If the value of the property is greater than $50,000, you can expect to be charged with a Level 5 felony, punishable by up to $10,000 in fines and as much as six years in an Indiana state prison.

Domestic Violence

Multiple types of criminal offenses could be considered domestic violence. Our Indianapolis criminal attorneys will need to review the details of your case to determine whether the incident in question should be classified as domestic violence-related. Any time there is a threat or use of violence between any type of family or household members, the incident could be prosecuted under Indiana Code § 34-6-2-34.5. Individuals who could be considered family or household members include:

  • Immediate or extended relatives
  • Individuals who are divorced or married
  • Anyone having any type of intimate or sexual relationship
  • People who are living together
  • Couples who live together but are not married
  • Children 

There are various types of offenses that could be tried as domestic or family violence matters. Some examples of these offenses include:

If a domestic violence restraining order is taken out against you, and you violate the requirements of this court order, you could also be charged with violating the restraining order. This may come with additional criminal penalties on top of the original domestic violence charges against you.

Juvenile Crimes

If you are a minor or your child has been arrested for a juvenile offense, having a compassionate Indianapolis criminal attorney by your side could help you avoid becoming a career criminal and protect your child from being lost to Indianapolis’ flawed juvenile justice system. Some of the most common types of delinquent and status offenses include:

  • Battery 
  • Curfew violations 
  • Driving without a license 
  • Running away 
  • Shoplifting
  • Truancy 
  • Underage DUI 

Expungement

If you have completed your sentence and are hoping to put your past behind you, looking into expungement may be in your best interests. Our criminal defense lawyers can analyze the details of your case to determine whether you meet the eligibility requirements to have your record effectively erased through expunction. 

There are many types of crimes that are eligible for expungement. However, there are a few crimes that cannot be expunged. Examples of non-expungeable offenses include:

You may also be barred from having your record expunged if you were convicted of two or more felonies involving the use of a deadly weapon.

Misdemeanors vs Felony Penalties 

Our Indianapolis criminal defense lawyers are here to guide you through the criminal process whether you are charged at the misdemeanor or felony level. The severity of your penalties will be based on the level of the charges against you, with misdemeanor penalties often carrying less severe penalties than those at the felony level.

Penalties for a Misdemeanor Conviction in Indianapolis

Misdemeanors are categorized into “classes”. Here are the consequences based on the class of misdemeanor conviction:

  • Class A misdemeanors – This is the most serious type of misdemeanor offense. If convicted, you could spend up to one year in a county jail and pay up to $5,000 in fines. Possession of large quantities of marijuana is just one example of a Class A misdemeanor crime.
  • Class B misdemeanors – This is a mid-level misdemeanor offense, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and fines not to exceed $1000. Public intoxication is an example of a Class B misdemeanor offense.
  • Class C misdemeanors – Class C misdemeanors are the least serious type of crime. You could be fined up to $500 and spend up to 60 days in jail. An example of a Class C misdemeanor could include minors in possession of alcohol.

Consequences Of a Felony Conviction

Felony offenses in Indiana are categorized into “levels.” Your Indianapolis criminal defense lawyer will be responsible for getting your charges reduced to the lowest level possible or even getting them reduced to a misdemeanor if possible. Here are the potential consequences of a conviction based on the level of the felony you have been accused of committing:

  • Level 1 felony – These are the most serious types of felony crimes you can be charged with across the state. If convicted, you could spend up to 40 years in prison. Attempted murder is often tried as a Level 1 felony.
  • Level 2 felony – Level 2 felony convictions are punishable by fines of up to $10,000 and as much as 30 years in prison. Voluntary manslaughter is often a Level 2 felony.
  • Level 3 felony – If you are guilty of a Level 3 felony, you could pay up to $10,000 and spend up to 16 years in prison. An example of a Level 3 felony could include aggravated battery.
  • Level 4 felony – Residential burglary is an example of a Level 4 felony offense, punishable by up to 12 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000.
  • Level 5 felony – Battery with serious injury is an example of a Level 5 felony. If convicted, you could be fined up to $10,000 and spend up to six years in an Indiana state prison.
  • Level 6 felony – This is the least serious level of felony offense. This is punishable by up to 18 months in an Indiana state prison. An example of a Level 6 felony could include theft.

Get Help From Our Strategic Indianapolis Criminal Defense Attorneys Today

When you are facing time in jail or prison, your entire future could be in jeopardy. Do not risk your freedom. Trust in a high-powered Indianapolis criminal defense attorney from The Nice Law Firm to build a compelling defense strategy. It is our goal to achieve the best possible outcome. Sometimes, we can avoid a trial altogether by securing a plea agreement or getting you enrolled in a pre-trial diversion program.

Learn more about which approach is most likely to get you back to your life sooner when you contact our legal team to schedule a confidential consultation. You can call our office or complete our quick contact form when you are ready to take charge of your defense strategy.