Kent Felony Lawyer

Trusted Felony Attorney in Kent

Just outside the Seattle metro area, Kent, Washington, is no stranger to felony crimes. The second Superior Court for King County is located in Kent, Washington. Individuals may find themselves charged with Driving Under the Influence for a simple mistake along Washington State Route 167 or assault arising from a misunderstanding at Kent Station Shopping Center. Felony charges are serious and can have substantial consequences and having a Kent felony lawyer on your side to help you navigate the legal system and protect your rights is crucial. 

ARK Law: Your Compassionate Legal Representation 

At ARK Law, we approach every case from two angles: the factual and legal challenges of the case and our desire to tell your story. Our team is especially passionate about helping juveniles and individuals between the ages of 18 and 25 who may be struggling under the weight of a felony charge. We understand how even a simple mistake or misunderstanding can lead to a lifetime behind bars, and we want to do everything in our power to keep that from happening. 

Defining Felonies in Kent, WA 

In Washington, felony penalties are categorized into several different classes based on their severity. These classes include: 

Class A felonies. These are the most severe felony crimes in Kent and can carry the most severe penalties if an individual is convicted. Charges can include murder, kidnapping, and assault in the first degree.

Class B felonies. While not as severe as Class A crimes, these charges should be taken no less seriously and include crimes of residential burglary, theft in the first degree, or assault in the second degree.

Class B felonies can still be strike offenses that open a person up to life in prison in the future, which is why it is so vital you hire a Kent felony attorney.

Class C felonies. While these charges often carry the lightest penalties in felony cases, the consequences that may arise from a conviction can still have severe impacts on your future. Charges can include those for possession of a controlled substance, like heroin or fentanyl, perjury, theft in the second degree or assault in the third degree.

Types of Felony Charges We Defend in Kent

Felony charges in Washington span a wide range of conduct, and the right defense strategy depends heavily on the specific charge you’re facing. ARK Law defends clients against felony charges including:

• Violent crimes: murder, manslaughter, assault, robbery, and kidnapping
• Domestic violence felonies, including felony violation of a protection order
• Drug crimes, including possession, delivery, and manufacturing of a controlled substance
• Firearm violations, including unlawful possession of a firearm
• Property crimes: residential burglary and theft in the first or second degree
• DUI-related felonies, including vehicular assault and vehicular homicide
• Sex offenses and other crimes against persons

No matter the charge, our approach stays the same: understand the facts, protect your rights, and fight for the most favorable outcome available to you.

What Happens After a Felony Arrest in Kent

An arrest is only the first step in a felony case, and knowing what comes next can ease some of the uncertainty. Felony cases in Kent are filed in King County Superior Court at the Maleng Regional Justice Center, located at 401 4th Avenue North. Here is a general outline of what to expect:

• Arrest and booking. Following an arrest, you may be booked into jail and held pending your first court appearance.
• Arraignment. This is your first formal appearance before a judge, where the charges are read and you enter a plea — almost always “not guilty” at this stage so your attorney has time to review the evidence.
• Bail and release conditions. The judge decides whether you are released on your own recognizance, released with bail, or held in custody based on the severity of the charge, your criminal history, and flight risk.
• Pretrial and omnibus hearings. Your attorney and the prosecutor exchange evidence, discuss the strength of the case, and may begin plea negotiations.
• Resolution. A felony case can end in a negotiated plea, a dismissal, or a jury trial — the right outcome depends on the specific facts of your case and the strategy your attorney builds around it.

Every stage of this process is an opportunity to protect your rights. Having a Kent felony lawyer involved from the arraignment forward can affect everything from your release conditions to your final outcome.

Sentencing for Kent Felony Cases 

Apart from legal penalties like jail time and fines, individuals convicted of a felony in Kent may also face a 30% unemployment rate when reintegrating into society as well as issues with obtaining housing and access to services. Beyond the courtroom, a felony conviction can also affect your housing applications, professional licensing, financial aid eligibility, and — for non-U.S. citizens — immigration status. If you lawfully owned firearms before your case, a felony conviction will also strip your right to possess them, though Washington law provides a path to restore those rights in certain circumstances once your case is resolved. When convicted, your sentence may be determined by three factors and their involvement in your case. These factors include: 

• Offense classification. Based on the classification of the offense such as serious violent, violent, non-violent, sex offense, and crimes against persons in cases where extreme violence or cruelty was used, the seriousness of the crime may determine the penalties you face. The felony Class of A, B, or C will also impact the seriousness of the offense and where the sentencing options begin. 

• Criminal history. If you have past criminal convictions, they will be counted as points and might increase the sentence you receive. An experienced felony lawyer knows the scoring guidelines well and can use them to your advantage to minimize the potential sentencing range you are facing.   

• Presence of aggravating or mitigating factors. A Judge can impose a sentence above or below the standard sentencing range if aggravating or mitigating factors are found to be present. Aggravating factors can include the use of a weapon during the crime, the vulnerability of the victim, or the presence of multiple victims. Mitigating factors, which ARK Law is particularly passionate about and experienced in arguing, can include characteristics of youthfulness, committing the crime under duress, coercion or threat, or continued physical or sexual abuse by the alleged victim before the crime occurred.  
  
• Washington’s Sentencing Reform Act (RCW 9.94A) uses a structured sentencing grid to calculate the standard range for most felony offenses. Each crime is assigned a seriousness level, and that level is cross-referenced against your offender score — a number based on your prior criminal history — to produce a standard sentencing range. Maximum penalties by felony class are set separately under RCW 9A.20.021: up to life in prison for a Class A felony, up to 10 years for a Class B felony, and up to 5 years for a Class C felony. Because the grid can be difficult to interpret without legal training, working with a felony lawyer who can accurately calculate your offender score — and challenge it where appropriate — is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself from a harsher sentence than the law requires

FAQs

What’s the Difference Between a Felony and a Misdemeanor in Washington?

Felonies are the most serious category of crime in Washington and carry the possibility of state prison time of more than one year, while misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors are handled in district or municipal court and carry shorter maximum jail sentences. The classification of your charge determines which court hears your case and what long-term record you’re left with.

Can a Felony Conviction Be Sealed or Vacated Later in Washington?

Some felony convictions in Washington can eventually be vacated, though eligibility depends on the offense class, how much time has passed, and whether you have completed all sentencing conditions. Our vacating and sealing team can review your specific conviction and let you know what options may be available.

Will I Automatically Go to Jail if I’m Convicted of a Class C Felony?

Not necessarily. Class C felonies carry lighter maximum penalties than Class A or B offenses, and your actual sentence depends on your offender score, the specific charge, and any aggravating or mitigating factors present in your case. An experienced attorney can often negotiate alternatives to incarceration depending on the circumstances.

What Is a “Strike Offense” in Washington?

Washington’s Persistent Offender Accountability Act — commonly known as the “three strikes” law — requires a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole for individuals convicted of a third “most serious offense,” which includes many Class A and Class B felonies. This is why even a Class B felony should never be treated lightly.

How Much Does Hiring a Felony Lawyer in Kent Cost?

Felony defense fees vary based on the complexity of the case, the felony class, and whether the case is likely to proceed to trial. ARK Law

Hire a Felony Lawyer Today by Contacting ARK Law 

If you have been charged with a felony in Kent, Washington, you have come to the right place. With years of experience as a King County criminal defense attorney and appointments as a public defender for juveniles in King County, attorney Andrea Kim is now ready to turn her time and attention to your felony case. By telling your story and giving voice to your rights as a human being, our firm is ready to resolve your case in the most favorable way possible up to and including fighting beside you through a jury trial. Attorney Andrea Kim has taken felony cases through jury trial to verdict, including not-guilty findings on assault and sexual offense charges — see our case results for recent outcomes. Contact our offices today for more information.