[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"site-shell":3,"site-search-modal-empty-8":171,"page:cases/felony":173,"public-chat-settings":304},{"source":4,"siteName":5,"tagline":6,"contactEmail":7,"contactPhone":8,"contactPhoneTollFree":9,"address":10,"mapsQuery":17,"ratingValue":18,"ratingSource":19,"primaryCta":20,"secondaryCta":23,"chatCta":26,"announcement":30,"google":32,"navigationPrimary":34,"navigationLegal":149},"defaults","Stephen D Aarons","Santa Fe Criminal Defense Lawyer","info@aarons.law","(505) 984-1100","(888) 984-1120",{"street":11,"city":12,"state":13,"stateFullName":14,"zip":15,"full":16},"2019 Galisteo St. Ste H1","Santa Fe","NM","New Mexico","87505","2019 Galisteo Street, Suite H1, Santa Fe, NM 87505-2106","https://www.google.com/maps/place/Stephen+D+Aarons,+Attorney+at+Law/@35.6564853,-105.9549988,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x87220cb8d5a8c3c9:0x331b6810ecf42476!8m2!3d35.6564853!4d-105.9524239!16s%2Fg%2F1tn067lx?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDMyMy4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D",0,"",{"label":21,"url":22},"Call Now","tel:+15059841100",{"label":24,"url":25},"Contact","/contact",{"label":27,"url":28,"statusLabel":29},"Start Chat","#start-chat","24/7",{"enabled":31,"text":19,"ctaLabel":19,"ctaUrl":19,"startAt":19,"endAt":19},false,{"analyticsMeasurementId":33,"tagManagerId":19,"searchConsoleVerification":19,"tagManagerAuth":19,"tagManagerPreview":19},"G-XPE216QNM4",[35,127,133,139,145],{"id":36,"group":37,"label":38,"path":39,"externalUrl":19,"openInNewTab":31,"displayOrder":40,"children":41,"groups":42},"primary-1","primary","Cases","/cases",1,[],[43,58,70,82,97,112],{"label":44,"items":45},"DWI & DUI",[46,49,52,55],{"label":47,"path":48},"DWI / DUI Defense","/cases/dwi",{"label":50,"path":51},"First-Offense DWI","/cases/dwi/dwi-first-offense",{"label":53,"path":54},"Interlock License","/cases/dui/interlock-license",{"label":56,"path":57},"DUI Penalties","/cases/dui/mandatory-minimum-penalties-for-dui",{"label":59,"items":60},"Violent Crimes",[61,64,67],{"label":62,"path":63},"Domestic Violence","/cases/domestic-violence",{"label":65,"path":66},"Murder & Homicide","/cases/murder-homicide",{"label":68,"path":69},"Assault & Battery","/cases/violence-assault-battery",{"label":71,"items":72},"Drug & Financial",[73,76,79],{"label":74,"path":75},"Drug Offenses","/cases/drug-offenses",{"label":77,"path":78},"Embezzlement","/cases/embezzlement",{"label":80,"path":81},"Fraud","/cases/fraud",{"label":83,"items":84},"Sex & Cyber Crimes",[85,88,91,94],{"label":86,"path":87},"Sexual Offenses","/cases/sexual-offenses",{"label":89,"path":90},"Internet Sex Crimes","/cases/internet-sex-crimes",{"label":92,"path":93},"Victim – Child","/cases/victim-child",{"label":95,"path":96},"Internet Crimes","/cases/internet-crimes",{"label":98,"items":99},"Other Offenses",[100,103,106,109],{"label":101,"path":102},"Firearm Offenses","/cases/firearm-offenses",{"label":104,"path":105},"Probation Violation","/cases/probation-violation",{"label":107,"path":108},"Reconsideration of Sentence","/cases/reconsideration-of-sentence",{"label":110,"path":111},"Federal Crimes","/federal-crimes",{"label":113,"items":114},"Record Clearing",[115,118,121,124],{"label":116,"path":117},"Expungement","/expungement",{"label":119,"path":120},"Do I Qualify?","/expungement/do-i-qualify",{"label":122,"path":123},"Fees & Costs","/expungement/fees",{"label":125,"path":126},"Waiting Times","/expungement/waiting-times",{"id":128,"group":37,"label":129,"path":130,"externalUrl":19,"openInNewTab":31,"displayOrder":131,"children":132},"primary-2","Process","/process",2,[],{"id":134,"group":37,"label":135,"path":136,"externalUrl":19,"openInNewTab":31,"displayOrder":137,"children":138},"primary-3","News","/news",3,[],{"id":140,"group":37,"label":141,"path":142,"externalUrl":19,"openInNewTab":31,"displayOrder":143,"children":144},"primary-4","About","/about",4,[],{"id":146,"group":37,"label":24,"path":25,"externalUrl":19,"openInNewTab":31,"displayOrder":147,"children":148},"primary-5",5,[],[150,156,161,166],{"id":151,"group":152,"label":153,"path":154,"externalUrl":19,"openInNewTab":31,"displayOrder":40,"children":155},"legal-1","legal","Privacy Policy","/privacy",[],{"id":157,"group":152,"label":158,"path":159,"externalUrl":19,"openInNewTab":31,"displayOrder":131,"children":160},"legal-2","Terms of Use","/terms",[],{"id":162,"group":152,"label":163,"path":164,"externalUrl":19,"openInNewTab":31,"displayOrder":137,"children":165},"legal-3","Disclaimer","/disclaimer",[],{"id":167,"group":152,"label":168,"path":169,"externalUrl":19,"openInNewTab":31,"displayOrder":143,"children":170},"legal-4","Accessibility","/accessibility",[],{"query":19,"total":18,"results":172},[],{"source":4,"slug":174,"canonicalPath":175,"title":176,"status":177,"seoTitle":178,"seoDescription":179,"ogImage":19,"sections":180},"cases/felony","/cases/felony","Felony Charges | Stephen D Aarons","published","Felony Defense | Stephen D Aarons","Felony criminal defense in New Mexico. Custody, release, evidence preservation, and serious long-term exposure.",[181,188,195,205,228,239,248,271,294],{"id":182,"type":182,"displayOrder":40,"payload":183},"hero",{"eyebrow":38,"title":184,"description":185,"primaryCtaLabel":21,"primaryCtaUrl":22,"secondaryCtaLabel":186,"secondaryCtaUrl":130,"variant":187},"Felony Charges","Felony accusations put custody, release conditions, evidence preservation, and long-term exposure on the table immediately.","What Happens Next","compact",{"id":189,"type":190,"displayOrder":131,"payload":191},"disclaimer","rich_text",{"eyebrow":19,"title":192,"paragraphs":193,"variant":189},"Important",[194],"This is general information, not legal advice. If an arrest happened recently or you believe you are under investigation, do not explain the facts to law enforcement before speaking with counsel.",{"id":196,"type":190,"displayOrder":137,"payload":197},"overview",{"eyebrow":198,"title":199,"paragraphs":200},"Overview","A felony label usually means the case needs immediate triage, even before every fact is known.",[201,202,203,204],"This page is for people who know the matter is serious but may not yet know the exact statutory label. At the outset, the most urgent questions are usually custody, court assignment, bond or release conditions, and what evidence exists.","Felony cases often begin fast, with early appearances, search warrants, digital evidence issues, witness problems, and strong pressure to make statements before the defense has the record organized.","The exact charge can change as the case develops. A broad label such as felony may later resolve into a specific offense category, but the need for early defense work does not wait for that refinement.","For many families, the first practical goal is not a complete legal education. It is understanding where the case is, what risk is immediate, and what has to be protected now.",{"id":206,"type":207,"displayOrder":143,"payload":208},"key-points","feature_grid",{"eyebrow":19,"title":209,"description":19,"numbered":210,"items":211},"Key points",true,[212,216,220,224],{"label":213,"title":214,"description":215},"Custody","Release and detention issues arrive early","The first hearings may affect whether a person remains in custody and on what conditions release is even possible.",{"label":217,"title":218,"description":219},"Charging","The exact theory may still change","The initial label is often not the final one, but the defense still has to act as if the stakes are already high.",{"label":221,"title":222,"description":223},"Evidence","Evidence can disappear or harden quickly","Phones, messages, surveillance, receipts, and witnesses can become harder to preserve once the early panic passes.",{"label":225,"title":226,"description":227},"Collateral","The consequences reach beyond jail or prison","Employment, immigration, firearm rights, licensing, and family stability can all be affected before the case is over.",{"id":229,"type":190,"displayOrder":147,"payload":230},"stakes",{"eyebrow":231,"title":232,"paragraphs":233,"variant":238},"What Is At Stake","What a felony case can place at risk",[234,235,236,237],"Felony exposure can mean prison, probation, fines, restitution, restrictive release conditions, and a permanent criminal record.","The court may impose no-contact orders, travel restrictions, substance monitoring, firearm restrictions, or other conditions that begin affecting daily life immediately.","The seriousness of a felony case also increases the risk of collateral consequences involving work, housing, immigration, professional licensing, and future background checks.","In some matters, one of the first strategic questions is whether the case will remain in state court or move into a federal posture with a very different timeline and sentencing framework.","alt",{"id":240,"type":190,"displayOrder":241,"payload":242},"strategy",6,{"eyebrow":243,"title":244,"paragraphs":245},"How These Cases Are Handled","The early defense usually focuses on the statute, the forum, and what must be protected first.",[246,247],"The first job is often to identify the exact charge, the court involved, the release posture, and the immediate deadlines. From there, effective defense work may involve preserving digital evidence, identifying witnesses, protecting privileged or sensitive information, and evaluating how the state obtained its evidence.","It is also critical to slow the case down enough to avoid preventable mistakes. Statements, hurried consent, and family panic can all make a felony case harder to defend than it needed to be.",{"id":249,"type":249,"displayOrder":250,"payload":251},"faq",7,{"eyebrow":252,"title":253,"description":254,"items":255},"Common Questions","Felony-charge questions we hear often","Quick answers to the questions people usually have at the outset. The facts still matter in every individual case.",[256,259,262,265,268],{"question":257,"answer":258},"What makes a charge a felony instead of a misdemeanor?","The statute and authorized punishment do. In general, felony charges carry greater sentencing exposure and are treated more seriously by the courts from the beginning.",{"question":260,"answer":261},"Can a felony charge ever be reduced?","Sometimes. The answer depends on the facts, the evidence, the person's record, and the exact statute. Early defense work often affects whether reduction is even realistic.",{"question":263,"answer":264},"Should family members start gathering documents and names right away?","Yes, carefully. Timelines, messages, receipts, video, and witness names can matter, but they should be organized without coaching witnesses or creating new problems.",{"question":266,"answer":267},"Does an arrest mean the final charge is already fixed?","Not necessarily. Charges can be amended or refined, but it is risky to assume that later clarification will erase early damage.",{"question":269,"answer":270},"How important is it to know whether the matter is state or federal?","Very important. Federal cases move differently, use different procedures, and often present very different sentencing risks.",{"id":272,"type":273,"displayOrder":274,"payload":275},"related","promo_cards",8,{"eyebrow":276,"title":19,"cards":277},"Related Pages",[278,281,284,288,291],{"title":74,"body":279,"ctaLabel":280,"ctaUrl":75},"Serious felony exposure often turns on search issues, intent, quantity, and federal overlap.","View Drug Offenses",{"title":101,"body":282,"ctaLabel":283,"ctaUrl":102},"Weapons allegations can transform a case into a much more serious felony problem.","View Firearm Offenses",{"title":285,"body":286,"ctaLabel":287,"ctaUrl":66},"Murder / Homicide","The highest-stakes felony cases, with complex factual and forensic issues.","View Homicide Defense",{"title":62,"body":289,"ctaLabel":290,"ctaUrl":63},"Felony exposure can increase quickly when household allegations, injuries, or prior history are involved.","View Domestic Violence",{"title":110,"body":292,"ctaLabel":293,"ctaUrl":111},"If federal agents or federal court are involved, the process changes from the start.","View Federal Crimes",{"id":295,"type":296,"displayOrder":297,"payload":298},"cta","cta_band",9,{"eyebrow":299,"title":300,"description":301,"primaryCtaLabel":302,"primaryCtaUrl":22,"secondaryCtaLabel":303,"secondaryCtaUrl":25},"Need Immediate Help","Get clear guidance before deadlines tighten.","A direct conversation can clarify exposure, options, and the next step before the case hardens in the wrong direction.","Call (505) 984-1100","Contact the Office",{"enabled":31,"followUpEnabled":210,"title":305,"assistantName":305,"eyebrow":27,"description":306,"welcomeHeadline":307,"welcomeBody":308,"inputPlaceholder":309,"statusLabel":310,"suggestedPrompts":311,"form":315,"review":326},"Aarons Law Chat","Calm first-step guidance for urgent criminal defense questions.","Tell me what is happening.","Keep it general at first. If the situation is urgent, recent, or someone is in custody, call (505) 984-1100.","Tell us what happened in broad terms. Avoid confidential details for now.","Available 24/7",[312,313,314],"Someone was arrested last night. What should we do first?","Can you explain what happens after a DWI arrest in New Mexico?","I need the office to review this chat and follow up directly.",{"enabled":210,"triggers":316,"headline":322,"description":323,"submitLabel":324,"successMessage":325},[317,318,319,320,321],"contact me","call me","follow up","consultation","talk to a lawyer","Request office follow-up","Share a few details and the office can review the chat and follow up directly.","Send Follow-Up Request","Your follow-up request has been sent to the office.",{"enabled":210,"triggers":327,"threshold":143,"geoPreference":210,"clickTracking":210,"askHeadline":336,"askDescription":337,"positiveHeadline":338,"positiveDescription":339,"negativeHeadline":340,"negativeDescription":341,"reviewSites":342},[328,329,330,331,332,333,334,335],"leave a review","write a review","review","feedback","testimonial","google review","yelp","avvo","How would you rate your experience?","Choose a rating so we can route you to the right next step.","Thank you for the kind words!","Would you mind sharing your experience on one of the review platforms below?","We are sorry to hear that.","Tell us what happened and the office can review it directly.",[]]