Manslaughter Attorney in Atlanta

Felony Homicide Defense Grounded in How Georgia Prosecutors Think

A manslaughter charge is a homicide charge. It doesn’t require the malice aforethought that murder does, but it still carries years in prison, a permanent felony record, and consequences that reach into every corner of your life. How the case gets handled in its earliest stages matters enormously: what is said to police, what evidence is preserved, and when defense counsel gets involved.

Attorney Brian Tevis built his career inside the Atlanta Judicial Circuit Public Defender’s Office defending clients facing serious felony charges. That background gives him direct knowledge of how Georgia prosecutors evaluate intent, provocation, and evidence when deciding how to charge a homicide case. At Tevis Law Firm, LLC, we’ve defended over a thousand clients across misdemeanor and serious felony charges, and we bring that same commitment to every Atlanta manslaughter case we handle. Attorney Tevis holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest peer-review rating available.

If you or someone you care about is facing a manslaughter charge in Atlanta, contact us now at (404) 907-2527. An arrest is not a conviction, and early legal intervention can affect the trajectory of your case.

Voluntary vs. Involuntary Manslaughter Under Georgia Law

Georgia defines two distinct types of manslaughter, and the difference between them affects both the available defenses and the potential sentence.

Voluntary Manslaughter (O.C.G.A. 16-5-2)

Voluntary manslaughter occurs when a person causes the death of another under circumstances that would otherwise be murder, but acts solely as the result of a sudden, violent, and irresistible passion resulting from serious provocation sufficient to excite such passion in a reasonable person. The key legal concept is “sudden and irresistible passion.” If any interval occurred between the provocation and the killing during which reason could have reasserted itself, the charge may rise to murder rather than manslaughter.

Involuntary Manslaughter (O.C.G.A. 16-5-3)

Involuntary manslaughter applies when a death results without any intent to kill. There are two forms. The first, charged as a felony, involves death caused during the commission of a non-felony unlawful act. The second, charged as a misdemeanor, involves death caused during a lawful act performed in an unlawful manner. The absence of intent to kill doesn’t make the legal exposure minor, and prosecutors have significant discretion in how they structure these charges at the outset.

Georgia Manslaughter Penalties

The sentencing ranges vary by charge, but the long-term consequences extend well beyond prison time.

• Voluntary manslaughter: A felony punishable by one to 20 years in prison
• Felony involuntary manslaughter: Punishable by one to ten years in prison
• Misdemeanor involuntary manslaughter: Punished as a standard misdemeanor under Georgia law

A felony manslaughter conviction creates a permanent felony record that can close doors to employment, housing, and professional licensing. Non-citizens convicted of felony manslaughter may face deportation or denial of immigration benefits. Under Georgia and federal law, a felony conviction also results in the loss of the right to own or possess firearms.

Why Atlanta Clients Facing Manslaughter Charges Turn to Tevis Law Firm, LLC

Attorney Tevis’s years in the Atlanta Judicial Circuit Public Defender’s Office give him direct knowledge of how the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office evaluates intent and provocation when building a felony homicide case. He’s also convinced the State not to retry a client originally charged with murder, a result that reflects the kind of work we do on serious homicide cases.

Our firm is recognized by The National Top 100 Trial Lawyers, and Attorney Tevis is a member of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Our published case results include charges dismissed, all charges dismissed, and a not-guilty verdict in an armed robbery case tried to verdict. Clients work directly with Attorney Tevis throughout their case.