If you have been convicted of a felony and are later caught committing another crime, the consequences can be serious. You need an OC area criminal defense lawyer who can help you advocate for your best interests and ensure that you do not fall into unfortunate circumstances after being arrested. For a felon found with a gun, the stakes can be quite high. Firearms are already deadly weapons that can make any existing scenario much more dangerous. Because of their potential and power to inflict harm, anyone who has previously been convicted of a felony is not legally permitted to receive, own, purchase, possess, use or control a firearm in any way. If you’ve already been convicted of a felony and are caught receiving, owning, possessing, purchasing, or controlling a gun, you could face additional felony charges in California as outlined under penal code 29800.
If you have been convicted of certain kinds of misdemeanors and are caught in custody or control of a firearm within ten years of that conviction, you could be looking at an additional felony or misdemeanor charge under California penal code 29805. The sentencing you will face depends upon the circumstances and the facts of the crime. Your gun rights can be revoked for ten years and felons can be facing as many as 16 months in jail or up to three years in county jail.
Furthermore, the fines associated with a person who has been in possession of a weapon illegally can include fines of up to $10,000. Since the word firearm is broadly construed, you should be aware that shotguns, rifles, and handguns are all considered firearms. If you have problems related to an illegal use of a firearm charge due to a previous criminal conviction, your criminal defense attorney needs to be retained as soon as possible. This is the only way for you to protect your interests and ensure that you have considered all relevant aspects of possible firearm charges.
