Have you been arrested or charged with homicide in Dayton, OH? Do not waste a moment before calling Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers for legal assistance. Your future is at stake, and our Dayton homicide defense attorneys will fight aggressively to protect it.
Our Dayton law firm offers a free initial case assessment, so contact us at (937) 531-0435 to get started today.
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How Our Skilled Defense Attorneys Can Help You Fight Back Against Your Homicide Charge
Right now, more than 100 people are sitting on death row in the State of Ohio. All of these people have one thing in common: They are there because they have been convicted of committing homicide.
If you have been charged with taking the life of another person, and would like to avoid being severely punished, you would be well-advised to enlist the services of an experienced homicide defense lawyer. Fortunately, you can find plenty of those at the Dayton, Ohio law office of Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers.
At Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers, our Dayton criminal defense attorneys have years of experience handling homicide matters. We would love to use the knowledge and expertise that we have gained over that time to help you fight back against your criminal charge. When you hire us to represent you in your case, we will:
Guide You Through the Legal Process
The judicial process in the state of Ohio can be incredibly complicated at the best of times. It can become even trickier to navigate when processing a homicide case. If you wish to make it through your case without taking any wrong turns or making any costly mistakes, you will need the help of an experienced lawyer.
Having worked within the Ohio justice system for years, our attorneys are familiar with all of its pitfalls and shortcuts. When you enlist our services, we will make sure that your homicide case runs as smoothly and efficiently as possible.
Protect Your Constitutional Rights
When investigating, arresting, and prosecuting you, law enforcement officials must respect your constitutional rights. In particular, they must not unlawfully search you or force you to incriminate yourself. Unfortunately, however, the police and prosecution don’t always play by the rules.
When you hire our defense attorneys to represent you during your case, we will make sure that your rights are not violated. We will be by your side during every interaction that you have with law enforcement officials to make sure that they do not step over the line. If they do, we will raise a complaint with the judge immediately.
Negotiate with the Prosecution
Shortly after you are taken into custody, you may be presented with a plea bargain by the prosecuting attorney. Unfortunately, the terms on offer in this initial deal are likely to leave a lot to be desired. A period of negotiation will probably be required if the offer is to be improved.
Over the years, our Dayton homicide lawyers have negotiated with countless local prosecutors. As a result, we know which buttons to push to convince them to improve their offers. If there is an improved deal to be made in your case, we will work diligently to make it happen.
When you need a Dayton criminal defense attorney you can count on, please do not hesitate to give the team at Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers a call. Our attorneys are well-versed in all aspects of criminal law and would be happy to discuss your case in greater detail during a free consultation.
Homicide Laws in the State of Ohio
The term “homicide” is used to describe any crime in which one person unlawfully takes the life of another. However, the Ohio Revised Code does not contain an offense that uses this name. Instead, homicide offenses in the Buckeye State are separated into three main categories:
Murder Charges
There are two main murder laws outlined in the Ohio Revised Code. They are:
Murder
Section 2903.02 of the Ohio Revised Code states that anyone who causes the death of another person or unlawfully terminates a pregnancy may be charged with murder. The law further explains that individuals who cause the death of another person while engaged in a violent offense that is classified as a first- or second-degree felony may also face a murder charge.
In the state of Ohio, murder is generally punishable as a felony of the first degree.
Aggravated Murder
Section 2903.01 of the Ohio Revised Code explains that anyone who purposefully, and with prior calculation and design, causes the death of another person or unlawfully terminates a pregnancy may be charged with aggravated murder. Individuals may also face aggravated murder charges if:
- They cause the death of a person who is younger than 13 years of age.
- They knowingly kill an on-duty law enforcement officer.
- They kill another person while in detention due to a prior felony conviction.
Like murder, aggravated murder is classified as a first-degree felony in the state of Ohio. However, the punishments doled out for aggravated murder convictions tend to be significantly harsher.
Manslaughter Charges
The state of Ohio has two main manslaughter offenses on its books. They are:
Voluntary Manslaughter
Section 2903.03 of the Ohio Revised Code states that anyone who kills another person or unlawfully terminates a pregnancy while under the influence of sudden passion or in a sudden fit of rage may be charged with voluntary manslaughter. Individuals who commit homicide with a sexual motivation may also be charged with this offense.
The state of Ohio generally punishes voluntary manslaughter as a felony of the first degree.
Involuntary Manslaughter
Section 2903.04 of the Ohio Revised Code explains that anyone who kills another person or unlawfully terminates a pregnancy while committing or attempting to commit a felony offense may be charged with involuntary manslaughter. This crime is usually punishable as a felony of the first degree in Ohio.
The same section of the Ohio Revised Code states that individuals who kill another person or unlawfully terminate a pregnancy while committing or attempting to commit a misdemeanor, a regulatory offense, or a minor misdemeanor may also be charged with involuntary manslaughter. In this case, the state is likely to punish the crime as a felony of the third degree.
Other Homicide Charges
The list of homicide charges in the state of Ohio does not stop at murder and manslaughter. The state also has a wide variety of alternative homicide offenses on its books, such as:
Negligent Homicide
Section 2903.05 of the Ohio Revised Code says that anyone who negligently causes the death of another person or unlawfully terminates a pregnancy using a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance may be charged with negligent homicide.
The state defines a “deadly weapon” as “any instrument, device, or thing capable of inflicting death, and designed or specially adapted for use as a weapon.” Meanwhile, it classifies the following items as “dangerous ordnances:
- Automatic or sawed-off firearms
- Explosive and incendiary devices
- Weapons designed for military purposes, and
- Firearm mufflers and suppressors.
In the state of Ohio, negligent homicide is almost always punishable as a misdemeanor of the first degree.
Vehicular Homicide
Section 2903.06 of the Ohio Revised Code explains that anyone who kills another person or unlawfully terminates a pregnancy while recklessly or negligently operating a motor vehicle, motorcycle, snowmobile, locomotive, watercraft, or aircraft may be charged with vehicular homicide. This offense is generally punishable as a misdemeanor of the first degree in Ohio.
Vehicular homicide can be upgraded to aggravated vehicular homicide under certain circumstances. If this occurs, the crime can become punishable as a felony of the first degree.
If you are facing criminal charges for any of the offenses listed above, please contact Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers as soon as possible. Our lawyers have years of experience in the area of criminal defense and are always available to help Dayton residents fight back against their criminal charges.
Punishments for Homicide Convictions in Ohio
As you might expect, homicide is one of the most harshly punished areas of criminal justice in the state of Ohio. The specific penalties handed down are, of course, usually tied to the seriousness of the crime committed.
Individuals who are convicted of aggravated murder could face life imprisonment or even the death penalty. Meanwhile, someone who is found guilty of negligent homicide could face a hefty fine and up to 180 days in county jail.
A brief overview of the main punishments doled out for the full spectrum of homicide offenses would include:
- Death sentences
- Prison sentences
- Jail sentences
- Hefty fines, and
- Driver’s license suspensions.
If you have been charged with a crime like murder or vehicular homicide and need a skilled criminal defense lawyer to help you avoid severe punishment, you are in the right place. The criminal defense attorneys at Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers in Dayton, OH are experts in Ohio homicide law. Give us a call or send us a message online to set up an initial consultation with a member of our team.
Experienced Dayton Homicide Defense Attorneys
For years, the lawyers at Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers have been using our experience in a wide range of practice areas to provide superior legal defense services to the people of Dayton, Ohio. If you are in trouble with the law, we would be honored to do the same for you. To set up a free consultation with one of our skilled criminal justice attorneys, just give us a call or send us a quick message.
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