Oregon Charges for Crimes by Felony Class

In the State of Oregon, a felony is a criminal offense for which a sentence may be imposed of more than one year.

Felony Sentencing and Convictions in Oregon

Oregon classifies its felony crimes by letters.  However, for certain crimes, the sentence is considered “indeterminate” which means that the court can assign the amount of years for the sentence, based upon the maximum permitted in the statute.  However, there are other crimes for which there is a mandatory minimum sentence.  These are set forth in a separate section following the classes described below.

Mandatory Felony Sentencing

In addition, Oregon’s Criminal Statute Section 137.700 provides for mandatory minimum sentences for specific felony offenses.  These offenses and their respective sentences are as follows:

• Murder--300 months
  
• Attempt or conspiracy to commit aggravated murder--120 months    
• Attempt or conspiracy to commit murder--90 months    
• Manslaughter in the first degree--120 months     
• Manslaughter in the second degree-- 75 months      
• Assault in the first degree-- 90 months     
• Assault in the second degree-- 70 months     
• Kidnapping in the first degree-- 90 months      
• Kidnapping in the second degree- 70 months      
• Rape in the first degree- 100 months     
• Rape in the second degree- 75 months       
• Sodomy in the first degree- 100 months  
• Sodomy in the second degree- 75 months     
• Unlawful sexual penetration in the first degree- 100 months    
• Unlawful sexual penetration in the second degree- 75 months     
• Sexual abuse in the first degree- 75 months     
• Robbery in the first degree- 90 months     
• Robbery in the second degree- 70 months     
• Arson in the first degree (when the offense represented a threat of serious physical injury) - 90 months      
• Using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct- 90 months     
• Compelling prostitution- 70 months     
• Rape in the first degree- 300 months   
• Sodomy in the first degree- 300 months     
• Unlawful sexual penetration, 1^st degree- 300 months     
• Kidnapping in the first degree- 300 months     
• Aggravated vehicular homicide- 240 months

Oregon Felony Records and Expungement

In the State of Oregon, one cannot expunge a Class A or Class B felony conviction.  Many Class C felony crimes may be expunged.  However, sex crimes, child abuse offenses and offenses involving endangering the welfare of a child cannot be expunged.

Oregon Statute of Limitations

The following are the time limits to bring a criminal prosecution for a felony in the State of Oregon:

No limitation: murder, manslaughter

6 years: rape, sodomy, incest, promoting or compelling prostitution, sexual offenses (note-for sexual offenses, if the victim was less than the age of eighteen at the time of the offense, the case may be filed at anytime prior to the victim’s twenty-fourth birthday)

3 years: all other felonies

View all Criminal Statutes in Oregon.

Help from a Lawyer in Oregon for Felony Charges

If one has been charged with a felony in the State of Oregon, one should consider retaining an experienced criminal attorney as soon as possible.  An experienced attorney can not only evaluate one’s case in order to determine what options one may have, but also the attorney can assist in one’s selection of the most appropriate course of action one should take.  In addition, an experienced attorney can help to preserve one’s rights and help to obtain the most favorable outcome in the particular circumstances.