Greenville, SC is a beautiful place to live. However, its rate of violent crime is higher than the national average. If you have been accused of a violent crime, a strong defense is essential. At the Law Office of Mo Abusaft, our experienced criminal defense attorneys are ready and willing to help you. Reach out for your consultation today.
Violent Crime Charges: What’s at Stake
A conviction for a violent crime has the potential to upend your life. If you are convicted of a felony anywhere in the United States, the consequences are immense:
- You might face considerable time in prison
- You may have to pay large fines
- You lose the right to vote
- You lose the right to own a gun
- You may have trouble finding housing
- Many employers will not hire convicted felons
You might be able to reinstate some of the rights you lose, but that is not a given.
In South Carolina, many violent crimes fall under the three-strikes law. This law stipulates that if you commit three crimes the state considers “serious,” you could be sent to prison for the rest of your life.
Defending You Against Charges of Violence
Our attorneys have experience defending people like you who have been charged with violent crimes. Violent crimes come in many forms, but these are some of the main categories:
Sexual Assault
In South Carolina, sexual assault is called “criminal sexual conduct” or CSC. There are three different levels of CSC charges:
- First Degree CSC: Up to 30 years in prison
- Second Degree CSC: Up to 20 years in prison
- Third Degree CSC: Up to 10 years in prison
Several different factors determine how severe a charge of CSC is, but all three of them are felonies. No matter which one you are accused of, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney.
Robbery
In South Carolina, there are two primary classifications of robbery: strong-arm robbery and armed robbery. Both are felonies, and both can carry hefty prison terms:
- Strong-Arm Robbery: Up to 15 years in prison
- Armed Robbery: 10–30 years in prison (only eligible for parole after seven years)
A person who commits strong-arm robbery takes someone else’s property by force or intimidation but doesn’t use (or pretend to use) a deadly weapon.
A person who commits armed robbery threatens another person with a deadly weapon or pretends to have a deadly weapon. This means that even if you hold your fingers in the shape of a gun under your shirt, you may be charged with armed robbery.
In South Carolina, it is also possible to be charged with more specific types of robbery:
- Attempted Armed Robbery: Up to 20 years in prison
- Train Robbery by Stopping a Train: 2–20 years in prison
- Train Robbery by Entering Train: 10–20 years in prison
- Robbery of a Driver of a Bus/Taxi: 10–30 years in prison (not eligible for parole until seven years)
- Bank Robbery: Up to 30 years in prison
- Robbery of a Person Using an ATM (or Similar): Up to 20 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines
A lot is at stake if you are facing a robbery charge, but a strong defense may help reduce the penalties you face.
Assault and Battery
The crime of assault and battery is deliberately causing physical harm to another person. There are varying degrees of assault and battery. A third-degree crime is considered to be the least severe, and an aggravated crime is the most severe. If you are convicted of assault and battery, you may face significant penalties:
- Aggravated Assault and Battery: Up to 20 years in prison
- First-Degree Assault and Battery: Up to 10 years in prison
- Second-Degree Assault and Battery: Maximum of three years in jail and a $2,500 fine
- Third-Degree Assault and Battery: Up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $500
The degree of assault and battery depends on several different factors. One of the most significant factors is how badly the victim has been injured.
Murder
Murder is a serious crime. If you are convicted of murder (or you plead guilty), a judge only has three options when sentencing you:
- 30 years to life in prison
- Life in prison without the possibility of parole
- Death
If you are facing a charge of murder, your freedom is not the only thing at stake — your life is as well. Our experienced attorneys have a passion for justice, and we are ready to fight for you.
Contact a Criminal Defense Attorney at the Law Office of Mo Abusaft
If you have been accused of a violent crime, your freedom is at risk. At the Law Office of Mo Abusaft, our attorneys are committed to finding justice for our clients. Contact us today and see how we may be able to help you.