Felony Attorney in Newport Beach

Prosecution-Informed Defense Backed by 100+ Years of Combined Experience

A felony arrest in Newport Beach sets off a fast-moving process. Bail decisions, charging choices, and the evidence prosecutors are allowed to use can all be shaped by what happens in the first hours. At Corrigan Welbourn Stokke, APLC, we’re available 24/7 to intervene immediately, and every client draws on more than 100 years of combined criminal defense experience through our collaborative team. That team includes former prosecutors who know exactly how the Orange County DA’s office builds and pursues felony cases.

We offer free consultations so you can meet our attorneys, understand your options, and build the trust a serious case demands before making any financial commitment.

Call (949) 251-0330 or reach out online to speak with a Newport Beach felony lawyer who can intervene immediately.

How California Defines & Sentences Felonies

California defines a felony as any crime punishable by more than one year in state prison or, in certain cases, county jail under Penal Code 1170(h) realignment. Unlike many states, California doesn’t use a Class A, B, or C classification system. Severity is determined by the punishment the statute specifies, not a letter designation.

Most felony sentences follow a low, middle, or high term triad, with the judge selecting the term based on aggravating and mitigating factors presented at sentencing. Under Penal Code 1170(h), many lower-level non-violent, non-serious felonies are now served in county jail rather than state prison, though the sentence still exceeds one year.

Felony Cases We Defend in Newport Beach

Each felony charge brings distinct challenges, and our firm is equipped to handle even the most complex allegations. We match clients to the attorneys best suited to the nature and complexity of the charge.

Felony matters our Newport Beach defense team commonly handles:

• Violent crimes, including assault, battery, and robbery
• White collar offenses such as embezzlement, forgery, and fraud
• Major theft, burglary, and property crimes
• Drug trafficking and large possession offenses
• Felony DUI and vehicular offenses
• Sex offenses under California law

Kate Corrigan’s practice focuses on federal criminal cases, including white collar crimes, drug trafficking, and RICO matters. T. Edward Welbourn, a former Orange County Deputy District Attorney, primarily handles misdemeanor and felony criminal offenses, including DUI cases. Some Newport Beach felony charges also carry federal court jurisdiction. Our attorneys are admitted to state and federal courts and have experience defending cases at every level.

Penalties & Collateral Consequences of a Felony Conviction

The penalties for a felony conviction extend far beyond the sentence itself.

Direct Penalties

• State Prison vs. County Jail: The most serious felonies are sentenced to state prison. Many lower-level, non-violent, non-serious felonies are now sentenced to county jail under Penal Code 1170(h) realignment, though imprisonment still exceeds one year.
• California Three Strikes Law: One prior strike doubles the sentence for a new felony. Two prior strikes can result in a mandatory 25-years-to-life sentence when the third felony is itself serious or violent. Under Proposition 36, a non-serious, non-violent third felony generally results in a doubled sentence rather than a life term, though exceptions apply.
• Fines and Restitution: Felony convictions can carry fines up to $10,000 plus court fees and mandatory restitution to victims.

Collateral Consequences

• Loss of Rights: A felony conviction results in the permanent loss of the right to possess firearms. Voting rights are suspended during a state or federal prison sentence and restored upon release, including for those on parole or probation.
• Professional Licensing: Convictions can lead to revocation or denial of licenses in medicine, law, finance, and other regulated fields.
• Employment and Housing: Felony status creates barriers to many forms of employment, housing, and military service.
• Immigration: Most felonies qualify as crimes involving moral turpitude or aggravated felonies under federal immigration law, which can result in mandatory deportation for non-citizens.

Our Felony Defense Strategy in Newport Beach

Our defense is built on two advantages many firms don’t offer together: a collaborative team with over 100 years of combined experience and attorneys who have prosecuted cases themselves. T. Edward Welbourn’s tenure as an Orange County Deputy District Attorney means we understand how the DA’s office thinks, which investigative shortcuts they take, and where their cases are most vulnerable.

• Challenging the Investigation: We use former prosecutorial knowledge to identify investigative missteps by police and the DA. Those findings drive motions to suppress evidence that can significantly alter the prosecution’s case.
• Penal Code 17(b) Wobbler Reductions: A “wobbler” is a charge that can be prosecuted as either a felony or a misdemeanor. Pursuing a Penal Code 17(b) motion to reduce the charge to a misdemeanor, often at the preliminary hearing or sentencing phase, is a core strategy for many of our clients.
• Expert Witness Retention: We regularly retain forensic experts, investigators, and criminologists to counter the prosecution’s technical evidence, including DNA analysis, ballistics, and digital evidence.
• Plea Negotiation: When a negotiated resolution is in a client’s best interest, we leverage our trial reputation and the weaknesses we’ve identified in the prosecution’s case to pursue more favorable terms, including seeking to avoid a strike or the longest prison terms.
• Collaborative Case Review: Every case is reviewed across our full team.
• Clear Communication: We explain every option in plain language and keep clients informed at every stage.

Why Newport Beach Defendants Choose Corrigan Welbourn Stokke, APLC

Our firm is dedicated entirely to criminal defense. That focus means every attorney on our team is continuously refining their knowledge of the law, the courts, and the strategies that matter most for people facing serious charges in Orange County.

Attorney Credentials & Recognition

Our attorneys have earned recognition that reflects decades of work in the Orange County legal community.

Kate Corrigan
AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, a three-term president and founding board member of the Orange County Criminal Defense Bar Association, and the 2018 recipient of the Alicemarie H. Stotler Award.

T. Edward Welbourn
Selected by Super Lawyers, named one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by The National Trial Lawyers, named one of America’s Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys, and a former Orange County Deputy District Attorney whose cases have been featured on Dateline NBC and ABC’s 20/20.

Alan H. Stokke
Regularly recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America, selected by Super Lawyers, a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and the American Inn of Court at the Master Bench Level, and the recipient of both the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association Criminal Defense Trial Lawyer of the Year award and the Legend of the Law award from the Orange County Bar Association in 2018.

The Collaborative Advantage

Clients don’t work with just one attorney. Through our collaborative model, every client has access to the full team’s experience and perspectives. We serve clients throughout Orange County and bring that same depth of resources to every case, regardless of complexity.

Available 24/7. Call Before Business Hours If You Have To.

Acting immediately after a felony charge allows our team to gather evidence, protect your rights, and build your defense from the earliest possible point. Don’t wait.

Ready for help? Contact Corrigan Welbourn Stokke, APLC 24/7 at (949) 251-0330 for a free consultation with a felony attorney in Newport Beach.