On many occasions, this blog has explained that the potential penalties for felony convictions in Oregon are severe. These crimes are the most serious that a person can face and therefore the penalties reflect that. While many people know that these crimes can potentially include a prison sentence, many people may not realize that they can be sentenced to large fines in addition to the prison time.
In a recent post, this blog explained that people can be sentenced to fines for misdemeanor charges. In those cases, the largest fine is $6,250 for a Class A misdemeanor. Much like misdemeanors, the specific fines for felony charges depend on the specific charges that a person has been convicted of.
With felonies, the smallest possible fines are for Class C felonies. According to ORS section 161.625, for Class C felonies a court can order a fine up to $125,000. For a Class B felony, the fine can be up to $250,000. The maximum amount of the fine increases again for a Class A felony. In these cases, the court can order a fine up to $375,000.
The potential fine is increased even more with murder charges. If a person is convicted of aggravated murder or murder, then the person can be sentenced to up to a $500,000 fine under section 161.625(1)(a). The exact amount of the fine can also vary if the person has been convicted of a crime that included the unlawful gain of another's property or money.
As you can see, fines for felony convictions can seriously limit a person's financial future. These fines can be very difficult to pay back especially if people are incarcerated or have limited job opportunities. While this post should only be used for informational purposes, an attorney can help to explain the best way to avoid these large fines. This may include creating an aggressive criminal defense strategy.
No Comments
Leave a comment