What Happens When A Felon Is Caught With A Gun In New Orleans

In Louisiana, a felon in possession of a firearm is charged with a felony offense that carries up to 15 years in prison. In New Orleans, the District Attorney's Office prosecutes these cases aggressively and will typically offer plea bargains—such as five years probation—to reduce the sentence. 

Felon in possession of a gun is one of the most serious crimes you can commit. If you are caught with a gun, it will be nearly impossible to avoid jail time, even if the weapon was not used or brandished. The penalties for this crime range from probation up to life imprisonment depending on your criminal history and other factors. Some people believe that many ex-convicts are innocent but are too scared to fight their case because they know what might happen if they lose. 

In this article, we will go into more detail about what happens when a felon is caught with a gun in New Orleans. 

The Cleansing Period 

The provisions of this Section prohibit the possession and carrying of concealed weapons by felons who have not been convicted for 10 years after completing their sentence. However, these restrictions do not apply to those individuals that were granted an interim release from prison or mental institution.

This means that if you were convicted of a crime and served your time less than ten years ago, you’re committing a felony by even possessing a firearm in New Orleans. 

Penalties 

Louisiana is known for its hard and fast laws on possession of illegal drugs, as well as illegal firearms. The punishment for violating the provisions of this Section shall be imprisonment at hard labor for not less than 5 nor more than 20 years without benefit of probation, parole, or suspended sentence and an extremely high fine.

is found guilty of attempting to violate the provisions of this Section shall be imprisoned at hard labor for not more than 7 1/2 years and fined not less than $500.00 nor more than 2,500 dollars

An individual can receive sentences ranging from fines up to imprisonment depending on the accusation. This crime is a felony. 

Further Guidance 

It is unlawful for any person who has been convicted of a felony to possess a firearm in New Orleans. Convicted felons are not allowed to possess dangerous instrumentalities like knives, bombs, or guns without express written permission from the government. Failure to abide by the law comes with serious consequences. If you are a previously convicted felon and you are convicted of gun possession, you are already working with a strike against you. It is vital to do what you can to protect your rights.    

Should you find yourself in a gun-related charge in New Orleans, your first and most important priority should be to secure legal counsel. It is vital to hire an attorney that specializes in this type of criminal law to protect and advise you of your rights. This is not a situation that you can handle on your own and we urge you to seek a lawyer with the experience and education necessary to defend you. 

The Take-Away

When you are facing criminal charges, it is always best to consult an attorney that specializes in criminal law. Only an experienced attorney can properly assist you with any criminal or felony charges. In this article, we have provided an overview of what happens when a felon is caught with a gun in New Orleans.