Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney
Felony prosecution
The office prosecutes felony crimes committed in Campbell County, from the grand jury through sentencing in Campbell Circuit Court.
What the office prosecutes
Felonies are the most serious crimes
A felony is a crime that can be punished by a year or more in state prison. Kentucky sorts felonies into classes, and the class sets the range of prison time a court can impose.
| Class | Prison term |
|---|---|
| Capital offense | Death, life without parole, life without parole for 25 years, life, or 20 to 50 years |
| Class A felony | 20 to 50 years, or life |
| Class B felony | 10 to 20 years |
| Class C felony | 5 to 10 years |
| Class D felony | 1 to 5 years |
These are the basic ranges in KRS 532.030 and 532.060. A person’s prior felony convictions and the facts of the case can change them.
Not a felony?
Misdemeanors, violations, traffic offenses and juvenile cases are prosecuted in District Court by the Campbell County Attorney’s Office, which is a separate office.
Handled by
Campbell County Attorney, Criminal DivisionCampbell County Courthouse, 3rd Floor330 York StreetNewport, KY 41071Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
How a case works
The path of a felony case
A felony case passes through two courts and several stages before it is resolved. This is the usual order in Kentucky.
Investigation and charge
Police investigate and file a charge, or the case is presented directly to the grand jury.
District Court
Most felony cases start in District Court, where a judge sets bond and decides at a preliminary hearing whether there is probable cause to send the case on.
Grand jury
Twelve citizens hear the evidence in private. If at least nine agree there is enough to proceed, they return an indictment.
Circuit Court
The defendant is arraigned before a Circuit Judge. Both sides exchange evidence and the court rules on motions. Many cases end here with a guilty plea.
Trial
At trial the Commonwealth must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. A jury of twelve must agree unanimously on its verdict.
Sentencing
After a conviction or a guilty plea, the judge imposes the final sentence. Victims may give a statement about how the crime affected them.
Every case is different, and this outline leaves out many details. It is general information, not legal advice.
Before a case begins
Reporting a crime
This office does not take crime reports. Crimes are reported to law enforcement, which investigates before a case reaches a prosecutor.
In an emergency, call 911. Otherwise contact the police department where the crime happened, or call Campbell County Consolidated Dispatch at (859) 292-3622 for police help that is not an emergency.
If police investigate and decide not to file a charge, the Campbell County Attorney’s Office can review a request for a criminal complaint. How that works
After a conviction
Sentencing and restitution
After a guilty plea or a guilty verdict, the judge imposes the sentence. When a jury convicts, it also recommends a sentence within the range the law allows. Depending on the offense and the person’s record, the result can be prison, probation under conditions set by the court, or in some eligible cases a supervised diversion program.
When a crime costs a victim money, Kentucky law requires the court to order restitution as part of the sentence, including in probation and diversion agreements (KRS 532.032). The judge sets the amount and the payment schedule and can call the person back to court if payments stop (KRS 532.033).
Is a case about something that happened to you?
Victims have rights at every stage, and witnesses have protections too.