A Class C felony in Missouri carries three to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, placing it in the middle of the state’s five felony classes. It covers offenses like first-degree involuntary manslaughter, theft of $25,000 or more, and manufacturing most controlled substances. The sentence itself is only part of the picture: a conviction also strips firearm rights, suspends voting rights during supervision, and follows you on background checks unless you later qualify for expungement.
Prison Time and Fines
A Class C felony carries no less than three years and no more than ten years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.1Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Revised Statutes 558.011 – Sentence of Imprisonment, Terms – Conditional Release That three-year floor is the key number. Class D and E felonies have no minimum, but a Class C conviction guarantees a meaningful sentence even in the best scenario. Above Class C sit Class B (5 to 15 years) and Class A (10 to 30 years or life).
On top of prison time, the court can impose a fine of up to $10,000. If the person profited financially from the offense, the judge can instead order a fine of up to double the amount gained.2Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Revised Statutes 558.002 – Fines for Felonies For financial crimes, that doubling provision can push penalties well above the standard cap.
What Counts as a Class C Felony
Involuntary manslaughter in the first degree is one of the most recognizable Class C offenses. It applies when someone recklessly causes another person’s death, as opposed to killing intentionally, which would fall into a higher class.3Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Revised Statutes 565.024 – Involuntary Manslaughter, First Degree, Penalty
Theft becomes a Class C felony when the stolen property or services are worth $25,000 or more. The same classification applies to stealing the contents of a bank teller machine, regardless of the amount inside.4Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Revised Statutes 570.030 – Stealing
Drug offenses land here often. Manufacturing or delivering a controlled substance other than a small amount of marijuana is a Class C felony. Unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon also sits in this class, unless the person has a prior dangerous felony or a prior firearm-possession conviction, which pushes the charge up to Class B.5Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Revised Statutes 571.070 – Possession of Firearm Unlawful for Certain Persons – Penalty – Exception
Harsher Sentencing for Repeat Offenders
A prior record changes the math. A “persistent offender” is someone with two or more felony convictions from separate incidents. When a persistent offender is convicted of a Class C felony, the court must sentence them within the range for the next class up, meaning Class B territory of 5 to 15 years.6Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Revised Statutes 558.016 – Extended Terms for Persistent and Dangerous Offenders The enhancement is mandatory once the court makes the finding, and the prior felonies do not have to be Class C themselves. Any two prior felony convictions will do it.
Probation Instead of Prison
A Class C conviction does not always mean serving time. The judge can suspend the prison sentence and place the person on probation instead. Felony probation runs one to five years, and the court can tack on an additional year if the person violates conditions.7Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Revised Statutes 559.016 – Probation Terms
Conditions typically include steady employment, regular reporting to a probation officer, no new criminal activity, and sometimes substance abuse treatment or restitution to the victim. Violating any condition can trigger revocation, and the judge then imposes the original prison sentence. The prison term hangs overhead the entire probation period.
How Long Prosecutors Have to File
Prosecutors generally have three years from the date of the offense to file Class C felony charges.8Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Revised Statutes 556.036 – Time Limitations The clock starts when the offense occurs, not when it is discovered. When fraud is a key element, prosecutors get an additional year running from discovery, but the total extension cannot exceed three extra years beyond the standard deadline.
Life After the Sentence
The time and the fine are often the smallest part of what a Class C felony costs a person over the long term.
Firearms
Missouri law bars anyone convicted of a felony from possessing a firearm, with an exception only for antique firearms. Violating the ban is itself a Class C felony carrying up to ten more years.5Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Revised Statutes 571.070 – Possession of Firearm Unlawful for Certain Persons – Penalty – Exception The restriction is permanent unless the underlying conviction is later expunged.
Voting
A felony conviction suspends voting rights during incarceration and any period of supervised release. Once a person is fully discharged from supervision, they can re-register through their local election authority or the Missouri Department of Revenue.9Missouri Department of Corrections. What Voting Rights Do Clients Have, and How Are Suspended Rights Restored Missouri does not impose a permanent voting ban for non-election-related felonies.
Employment and Housing
Felonies show up on background checks, and many employers and landlords screen before approving an application. Federal guidance from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission tells employers to weigh the seriousness of the offense, how long ago it occurred, and the nature of the job rather than applying blanket bans.10U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Enforcement Guidance on the Consideration of Arrest and Conviction Records in Employment Decisions Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act Still, a Class C felony narrows your options, especially in fields that require professional licensing or security clearances.
Clearing the Record Through Expungement
Many Class C felonies can be expunged in Missouri, but not all. A granted expungement removes the conviction from background checks and can meaningfully reopen employment and housing options.
To petition, you must wait at least three years after completing the full sentence, which includes any probation, parole, fines, and restitution. You cannot pick up any new felony or misdemeanor conviction during the waiting period, and you cannot have pending charges when you file.11Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Revised Statutes 610.140 – Expungement of Certain Records
Several categories are permanently excluded regardless of felony class: any Class A felony, any offense requiring sex offender registration, any dangerous felony as defined by Missouri law, any felony where death is an element, and any felony assault or kidnapping charge. That death-element exclusion matters here. First-degree involuntary manslaughter is a Class C felony but cannot be expunged, because death is an element of the offense.11Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Revised Statutes 610.140 – Expungement of Certain Records
Missouri caps lifetime felony expungements at two. Even when you qualify, the relief is not automatic. The court weighs whether your conduct since the conviction shows you are no longer a threat to public safety and whether granting the petition serves the public interest.