The Long-Term Impact of a Felony Conviction

 Posted on November 14, 2025 in Criminal Defense

Felony charges should always be taken seriously, as they have the potential to impact the rest of your life if you are convicted. Compared to misdemeanors, felony offenses have longer jail sentences due to the gravity of the crimes. If you have been arrested for a felony, whether for a violent offense, a white collar crime, or something else altogether, a Cooke County, TX criminal defense lawyer can help.

At Magaña & Van Dyke, we have successfully defended many clients accused of felony charges. While our past results are not a guarantee of future results, you can rest assured that when you work with our firm, your case will be handled by an experienced, aggressive attorney fighting on your behalf. 

Criminal Penalties for a Felony Conviction in Texas

In Texas, felony crimes are sorted into degrees according to the severity of the offense. These degrees are as follows:

• State jail felonies: Punishable by 180 days to 2 years in state jail

• Third-degree felonies: Punishable by two to 10 years in prison

• Second-degree felonies: Punishable by two to 20 years in prison

• First-degree felonies: Punishable by five to 99 years in prison, or life

In addition, felony crimes can carry up to $10,000 in fines. Considering that some misdemeanor crimes like assault can easily be aggravated to felony charges (Texas Penal Code Sec 22.01), seeking a criminal defense lawyer after an arrest is always in your best interests. An attorney can explore your options to get a felony charge reduced as much as possible, or even seek an acquittal.

Will I Lose My Gun Rights for a Felony Conviction?

Texas is a strong supporter of individual gun rights. However, if you are convicted of a felony crime, you could lose your right to possess a gun altogether. Under state law, convicted felons are barred from owning firearms until five years have passed since they have served their sentence, starting from the release date from prison or community supervision. Even then, convicted felons are only allowed to possess firearms at their homes, not in public.

If you are accused of unlawful possession of a firearm as a felon, you could face criminal prosecution with third-degree felony punishments. A lawyer could assert different defenses on your behalf, such as arguing lack of possession or mistakes of fact.

Other Collateral Consequences of a Felony Conviction

Aside from the loss of your freedoms and certain other rights, the aftershock of a felony conviction could also be felt in other areas of your life. A felony conviction may make it much harder to find gainful employment or secure housing. Furthermore, these convictions cannot be expunged. A felony conviction can also directly affect your professional licenses for your job, hurting your future career prospects.

Contact a Spanish-Speaking Denton County, TX Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you have been accused of a felony crime, Magaña & Van Dyke can help protect your rights. With an aggressive defense strategy, our legal team will work toward the best possible result. To schedule a free consultation, call our offices at 940-382-1976 or contact our Cooke County, TX criminal law attorneys.