Delano Felony Defense Lawyer
A felony charge in Delano is one of the most serious legal challenges you can face. Unlike misdemeanor charges, felonies carry the possibility of state prison time, substantial fines, and long-term consequences that can follow you for the rest of your life — from the loss of your right to vote or own a firearm to lasting damage to your career and reputation. If you or a loved one has been charged with a felony, you need an experienced Delano felony defense lawyer who is prepared to fight for the best possible outcome from the very first hearing.
At Humphrey & Thompson, our attorneys are Board Certified Criminal Law Specialists by the State Bar of California. We are a boutique firm, which means you work directly with experienced trial attorneys who have handled thousands of criminal cases throughout Kern County — not an unfamiliar associate assigned to your file. When your freedom is at stake, that level of direct, experienced representation makes all the difference.
To talk about your situation confidentially, you can call (661) 760-7678.
What is the Difference Between a Felony and a misdemeanor in California?
California criminal law divides offenses into distinct categories based on the severity of the alleged conduct and the maximum statutory punishments attached to them:
Misdemeanors
Misdemeanors are moderate offenses—such as simple assault, shoplifting, or first-offense DUIs. While still serious, a misdemeanor conviction cannot result in state prison time; the maximum penalty is capped at up to one year in a local county jail, along with summary probation and modest fines.
Felonies
Felonies represent the most egregious category of crimes under the California Penal Code. These include high-stakes offenses like murder, manslaughter, rape, grand theft, domestic violence with substantial injury, residential burglary, and felony narcotics distribution. A felony conviction mandates structural sentence terms served in state prison (or county jail under California's realignment program), formal supervised probation, and a lifelong loss of fundamental rights, including your right to possess firearms and the right to vote while incarcerated.
"Wobblers"
A unique aspect of California law is the existence of "wobbler" offenses. These are crimes that can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony at the complete discretion of the prosecuting agency, based on the specific facts of the incident and your prior record. A skilled defense attorney can frequently intervene during the pre-filing stage to negotiate with prosecutors, successfully convincing them to file the charge as a misdemeanor rather than an aggressive felony.
criminal law specialists
Recognized by The State of California As Board Certified Criminal Defense Experts
At Humphrey & Thompson, your satisfaction is our priority! See for yourself what our clients have to say about working with us.
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- Aracele S.
I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to Kyle Humphrey at Humphrey & Thompson for his help with an unexpected case. He was highly thorough and made sure I understood every part of the process, which was especially important as this was my first and only legal matter. Many thanks to you and your team!
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Needed a lawyer for our juvenile son for a felony assault case. Public defender was not very helpful and told us that at best our son would be on a very intensive probation for years if not sentenced to a camp. Rob Singh took our case and basically got everything resolved outside of court with the prosecutor within 2 weeks. Alleviated a lot of stress and anxiety by getting our son on a very minimal probation for 6 months and then records completely sealed. Highly recommended and would definitely hire this firm again.- Erik S.
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- Rob B.
He was straight forward, informative, and very easy to work with from inception to completion. I strongly suggest reaching out to Mr Thompson should you need the services offered by his office!
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- Joe S.
His experience and knowing what to do helped and he has wisdom in sharing and saying the right thing to calm you in whatever you are going through. At times I was talked to as if I knew the law but when questioned what he was talking about he would take the time to explain. He is a very busy man so it seemed like he was hurried but would come back to explain. Happy with the outcome and glad that we were able to find a great attorney.
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- Randy K.
Due to the distance away from the Bakersfield area I was able to deal with the firm by phone and email. Phone service was very timely and they made me feel comfortable. If needed, I would use their services again and recommend this law office.
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- KC A.
I had an amazing experience with Kyle! He is a straight shooter and that was crucial for me to hear. I was able to keep all my rights, get my case dismissed and that was huge for me! Kyle was able to take a bad situation for our family and deliver results that allowed us to move forward and grow. I highly recommend Kyle and his team!
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- Tina H.
My son was wrongfully accused and charged with assault. I hired Mr. Humphrey to represent him because I heard he was the best and as my son is 19 years old, I did not want this bogus charge going on his record. Mr. Humphrey did an excellent job of representing my son from day one. I am happy to say that the charges were dropped and the case was dismissed. I HIGHLY recommend Kyle J. Humphrey.
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- Cesar M.
They were very straightforward about the possible outcomes and always seemed to be one step ahead in planning our defense strategy. The paralegal staff was also courteous and prompt in their responses, which made the whole stressful process much more bearable. I am profoundly grateful for their services. the Martinez Lugo family we loved them we really recommended thanks so much :)
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Jury Trial Acquittals
Molestation and Sexual Abuse of Minors
Mr. Thompson Secures Complete Dismissal of all Charges at Jury Trial for Accusations of Molestation and Sexual Abuse of Minors
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Case Dismissal
Sexual Abuse
Allegation of Continuous Sexual Abuse Dismissed Before Trial. -
Case Dismissal
Felony Sex Case
Felony Sex Case based on Undercover Decoy Sting Dismissed Entirely. -
Case Dismissal
Rape
Rape Case Dismissed Based on Defense Investigation and Medical Evaluation Before Trial. -
Case Dismissal
Sexual Battery
Local business owner charged with sexual battery, dismissed. -
Avoid Sex Offender Registration
Sex Offense
Juvenile Client Has Felony Sex Offense Case Dismissed and Is Not Required to Register
Let Our Firm Handle Your Felony Case
The attorney you choose to stand beside you in a felony matter can mean the difference between keeping your freedom and serving a lengthy prison sentence. Humphrey & Thompson is a premier, boutique criminal defense firm led by partners Kyle J. Humphrey and Jared M. Thompson. Both are Board Certified Criminal Law Specialists by the State Bar of California—a prestigious credential earned by fewer than 5% of all criminal defense attorneys across the state.
We don't operate like a high-volume "settlement mill" that passes complex files down to inexperienced, unlisted legal assistants. Our board-certified legal experts manage your felony case directly from inception to completion. We leverage decades of collective courtroom experience, sophisticated defense strategies, and deep familiarity with the Kern County judicial system to aggressively challenge the state's evidence at every turn.
To discuss your situation confidentially and learn how a felony lawyer Delano residents can trust might assist in your case, contact us today.
