Missouri Felony Classes Explained
If you or someone you know has been charged with a felony in Missouri, one of the first things you will hear is the “class” of the felony. Missouri organizes felonies into five classes, from Class A (the most serious) to Class E (the least serious). The class of your charge determines the range of penalties you face and shapes the entire strategy of your defense.
The Five Felony Classes
Class A Felony
Class A felonies are the most serious criminal charges in Missouri. They carry a prison sentence of ten to thirty years, or life imprisonment. Examples include second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, and first-degree kidnapping.
Class B Felony
Class B felonies carry five to fifteen years in prison. Examples include voluntary manslaughter, first-degree burglary, and first-degree domestic assault.
Class C Felony
Class C felonies carry three to ten years in prison and fines up to $10,000. Examples include involuntary manslaughter, delivery of a controlled substance, and stealing property valued at $25,000 or more.
Class D Felony
Class D felonies carry up to seven years in prison and fines up to $10,000. Examples include possession of a controlled substance, second-degree domestic assault, forgery, and stealing property valued at $750 or more.
Class E Felony
Class E felonies carry up to four years in prison and fines up to $10,000. Examples include third-degree assault, third-degree domestic assault, unlawful use of a weapon, and resisting arrest. Class E is the most common felony classification because Missouri law defaults any unspecified felony to this class.
Misdemeanors vs. Felonies
The fundamental difference is that felonies carry the possibility of more than one year in prison (served in a state correctional facility), while misdemeanors carry jail time of one year or less (served in a county jail). Missouri has four misdemeanor classes (A through D), with Class A being the most serious at up to one year in jail.
Enhanced Sentencing
Your sentence can be increased beyond the standard range if you have two or more prior felony convictions, if you are classified as a “dangerous offender,” or if the offense was motivated by bias based on race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or disability. Enhanced sentencing bumps your penalty to the next-higher felony class.
Why the Class Matters for Your Defense
The felony class determines the range of possible outcomes, which shapes how your attorney approaches plea negotiations, pretrial motions, and trial strategy. In many cases, an experienced attorney can argue for a charge to be reduced to a lower class based on the facts, which can mean the difference between prison and probation.
If you are facing felony charges in Missouri, call (314) 708-1720 to discuss your case with Mark Lee.