Boston Felony Defense Attorneys

Defending Boston Felony Clients at Trial & on Appeal Since 1991

Under Massachusetts law, a felony is any crime punishable by death or imprisonment in state prison. The consequences of a conviction can follow you for the rest of your life. Penalties range from substantial fines and mandatory minimums to life in prison, depending on the charge. Because the stakes are this high, experienced legal representation from the earliest stage isn’t just helpful; it’s critical. Our Boston felony defense lawyers at Gens & Stanton, P.C. have defended clients in Massachusetts courts continuously since 1991, and we’re ready to put that experience to work for you.

We operate as a boutique practice, which means you work directly with the felony attorney handling your case, not assistants or junior staff. Our attorneys are licensed in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New York, and one principal attorney served as an instructor at Harvard Law School and graduated with honors from Tulane University. That depth of training shapes how we approach every case we take on.

Types of Felony Charges We Defend in Massachusetts

A felony charge can upend your life immediately. Some defendants face incarceration before a verdict is ever reached. Many serious matters begin at arraignment in Boston Municipal Court or District Court before being indicted and transferred to Suffolk County Superior Court for jury trial. At every stage, you need attorneys with real trial experience who know these courts and how they operate. Our criminal defense attorneys have helped clients across Massachusetts find a path forward, and we’re here to help you do the same.

Examples of felonies we defend:

• Theft
• Sexual abuse
• Armed robbery
• Fraud
• Drug crimes
• Embezzlement

Penalties for Felony Offenses in Massachusetts

Massachusetts doesn’t classify felonies into numbered tiers. Each criminal statute sets its own penalty range, which means the consequences you face depend entirely on the specific charge. Manslaughter can carry up to 20 years; certain forms of robbery and murder can result in life sentences. First-degree murder carries mandatory life without parole for defendants age 21 or older at the time of the crime. Many statutes also impose mandatory minimum sentences, leaving judges little discretion. Under M.G.L. c.279 §25, defendants with two prior felony convictions, each resulting in at least three years in state or federal prison, may be sentenced as habitual criminals on a third conviction, requiring the court to impose the maximum term under the applicable statute.

Incarceration and fines are only part of the picture. A felony conviction also means the loss of voting rights while incarcerated, the loss of the right to possess a firearm, significant barriers to employment and professional licensing, and difficulties securing housing or educational financial aid. These collateral consequences can outlast any prison sentence. Massachusetts does allow sealing or expungement of certain records under specific eligibility rules, but those options aren’t available in every case. The sooner you retain an experienced felony defense attorney in Boston, the more options may remain available to you.

How We Defend Felony Cases in Boston

Every case begins with a thorough review of the evidence, police conduct, and procedural record. From there, we build a defense strategy shaped by the specific facts of your situation, not a generic template applied to every client. Depending on the circumstances, that strategy may include filing motions to suppress unlawfully obtained evidence, challenging witness credibility, or negotiating with prosecutors for reduced charges or dismissal.

What genuinely distinguishes our firm is the ability to represent you at both the trial level and the appellate level. Many felony defense attorneys stop at the verdict. We don’t. If a trial produces an unfavorable result, we can identify legal errors in the record and take your case to a higher court. You don’t have to find new counsel if the fight continues past trial.

Throughout the process, we communicate clearly and promptly. We answer calls and emails quickly, explain every development in plain language, and are upfront about fees and likely outcomes from day one. We also work with clients who speak English as a second language, helping reduce the risk that language barriers affect your defense. One client trusted our firm with their legal matters for over 14 years. That kind of long-term relationship reflects how we work with everyone we represent.