If a person was charged with a felony but has not been charged with any new crimes for 5 years after being released, they can petition the courts to have their record sealed. Felony convictions for SVU crimes cannot be sealed though.
It's all up to the prosecutor, judge, jury or possibly the arresting officer to change the charge from a felony charge to a misdemeanor charge, happens all the time..
It means you are in serious trouble.
You would have to check with the licensing authority in your state, but I do not believe you can. Even though your record is sealed, it is sealed ONLY to the public. Government agencies still have access to it.
It could. If you had a withhold of adjudication on the charge I suggest you have your charge sealed or expunged.
It depends. If you have a felony on your record, you can never again own a firearm, unless your rights have been restored. Having your rights restored is something that you have to request, it is not something that just happens, and even then, it can only be done under certain circumstances.Additional: A "sealed' Felony means that it is sealed only to the general public. Law enforcement, the courts, and government agencies doing background checks still have access to the record
You need to talk to a lawyer.
It is when a felon keeps on getting charged with felonies. It is at the prosecutor's choice to then charge that person with a PFO, also known as a Persistent Felony Charge. Most usually happens after 3 felony charges and carries a 10 year prison ter.
No
yes, it is a separate charge
no
If you meet the conditions of the pardon.