Kentucky Manslaughter Crimes
In Kentucky, when a person is accused of causing the death of an individual, there are three crimes can be charged – (1) murder, (2) manslaughter, or (3) reckless homicide. Manslaughter is charged when the degree of culpability of the accused is lower than that of murder. For that very reason, the penalties associated with manslaughter are not as harsh as the penalties associated with murder; a capital offense in Kentucky that is therefore punishable by up to life in prison or the death penalty.
Manslaughter is commonly charged when a person is attempting to injure someone, but the person dies from the injury. For instance, if two people are in a common bar fight and Person A punches Person B in the face one time and Person B ends up dying from the blow to the head, often times Person A will be charged with manslaughter, not murder.
There are two degrees of manslaughter in Kentucky.
1. First Degree Manslaughter is charged when a person is attempting to only injure another person but in fact kills them, or when a person who would otherwise be charged with murder is found to be acting under the influence of extreme emotional disturbance.
2. Second Degree Manslaughter is charged when a person acts wantonly and the wanton conduct causes the death of another person. This includes, but is not limited to, wantonly operating a vehicle or distributing narcotics which result in the death of a person.
In Kentucky, manslaughter is always a felony.
- Manslaughter in the First Degree is a Class B felony.
- Manslaughter in the Second Degree is a Class C felony.
Our skilled manslaughter criminal defense attorneys are always prepared to fight in your defense and to protect your rights and freedom. With three attorneys working on your case, we see to it that no stone is left unturned. Our criminal defense attorneys stay current on all of the latest court decisions that can help you have what it takes to beat your charges.
It is important that the prosecutors know that you have attorneys who won’t back down. Walk into the courtroom with attorneys with a proven track record of success, who will hold the government to its burden of proving each and every element of their case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Have you been charged with manslaughter?
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If you have been charged with manslaughter, you need a team of experienced criminal defense attorneys focused on achieving the absolute best outcome for your case. Call and speak with a Cooley Iuliano Robey, PLLC criminal defense attorney at 859-636-6803.
What are the penalties for First Degree Manslaughter in Kentucky?
Manslaughter in the First Degree is a Class B felony in Kentucky and carries a sentence of 10 – 20 years in prison. It can also carry a fine of up to $10,000.00.
What are the penalties for Second Degree Manslaughter in Kentucky?
Manslaughter in the Second Degree is a Class C felony in Kentucky and carries a sentence of 5 – 10 years in prison. It can also carry a fine of up to $10,000.00.
You need a team of experienced lawyers on your side!
Our criminal defense attorneys at Cooley Iuliano Robey, PLLC are members of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the National Trial Lawyers, America’s Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys and have experience practicing criminal defense cases just like yours throughout all of Kentucky.
Our team of lawyers will put their experience and reputation for success to work for you against your criminal charges.
When it comes to manslaughter, you need attorneys who will fight for and assert your constitutional rights. Often times, manslaughter charges boil down to the state of mind of the accused at the time he or she is accused of committing the crime. Our team of lawyers will dedicate the time necessary to meet with you and to go through every detail of your case, as we lay the building blocks to your best defense!
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Want to know more? We have included Kentucky manslaughter laws below.
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(1) A person is guilty of manslaughter in the first degree when:
(a) With intent to cause serious physical injury to another person, he causes the death of such person or of a third person;
(b) With intent to cause the death of another person, he causes the death of such person or of a third person under circumstances which do not constitute murder because he acts under the influence of extreme emotional disturbance, as defined in subsection (1)(a) of KRS 507.020; or
(c) Through circumstances not otherwise constituting the offense of murder, he or she intentionally abuses another person or knowingly permits another person of whom he or she has actual custody to be abused and thereby causes death to a person twelve (12) years of age or less, or who is physically helpless or mentally helpless.
(2) Manslaughter in the first degree is a Class B felony.
If you or someone you care about has been charged with a voluntary manslaughter charge in Kentucky, contact our reputable criminal defense lawyers or voluntary manslaughter lawyers as soon as possible by calling 859-636-6803.
(1) A person is guilty of manslaughter in the second degree when he wantonly causes the death of another person, including but not limited to situations where the death results from the person’s:
(a) Operation of a motor vehicle;
(b) Leaving a child under the age of eight (8) years in a motor vehicle under circumstances which manifest an extreme indifference to human life and which create a grave risk of death to the child, thereby causing the death of the child; or
(c) Unlawful distribution for remuneration of a Schedule I or II controlled substance when the controlled substance is the proximate cause of death.
(2) Manslaughter in the second degree is a Class C felony
If you or someone you care about has been charged with a voluntary manslaughter charge in Kentucky, contact our reputable criminal defense lawyers or voluntary manslaughter lawyers as soon as possible by calling 859-636-6803.
Vehicular Manslaughter
CIR Legal’s manslaughter defense lawyers can help you with any type of manslaughter charge and help you determine what you’re up against.
Vehicular manslaughter refers to the charges when a vehicle is involved in causing the death of another person. In Kentucky, vehicular homicide is not its own criminal defense. Any death caused by a vehicle, depending on what is alleged to have occurred, will be charged as either murder, manslaughter or reckless homicide. Generally speaking, most deaths caused by operation of a vehicle are charged as manslaughter.
Federal Manslaughter Crimes
The federal government has its own laws pertaining to manslaughter. Whether you are tried by the state of Kentucky or by the federal government depends on a number of factors, such as where your arrest happened, who arrested you, what evidence was found and what alleged crime was committed.
Most manslaughter charges are handled by the Commonwealth, but if you are alleged to have committed manslaughter on federal land or in violation of federal law, you can be charged with a federal offense and tried in federal court.
There are two Federal Districts in Kentucky, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky and the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Each District has a number of courthouses spread out throughout their geographical region of the state.
Federal manslaughter crimes are serious, just like their state level counterparts. If federal charges have been brought against you, you need to call a trusted criminal defense attorney as soon as you can. Working with a seasoned criminal defense attorney who will defend and protect your rights against the government’s charge is the first step to building your defense and protecting your freedom.