Kris J. Felthousen has been providing competent and successful criminal defense representation on the Outer Banks of North Carolina for over 29 years. During that time, he has advocated for thousands of people who have found themselves alleged to have committed an infraction, misdemeanor and/or felony offense(s). Kris has represented people for practically every type of criminal allegation stemming from what might be considered a minor traffic violation to jury trial representation for the most serious of criminal charges, first degree murder. In addition, he has a wealth of experience in representing those charged with Driving While Impaired (DWI) offenses and controlled substance violations. As a result of practicing law within a world renowned vacation destination, Kris has had the privilege of representing people annually from nearly all 50 of the United States as well as commonly representing people from the Latino community due to his ability to speak Spanish and interpret for the court. Thus, it can be safely said that Kris Felthousen has become a fixture in the criminal District and Superior courtrooms of Dare and Currituck Counties. Please review the media link for interesting newspaper articles related to just some of his noteworthy cases over the years.
Attorney Felthousen became licensed to practice law in North Carolina in 1992. He became partner in the Kitty Hawk, NC law firm of Gaw and Felthousen in 1995 before departing to join the longstanding Manteo, NC office of Aldridge, Seawell and Khoury. This move was made in order to merge large criminal defense practices and to facilitate the retirement of long time Dare County criminal defense attorney, Irvin Aldridge. Kris had been a partner in an Aldridge namesake firm for 10 years before deciding to open his own office in 2009 in order to continue his main focus of providing only criminal defense representation.
Growing up in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Kris graduated from Frank W. Cox High School in 1984. He excelled academically and athletically while becoming an undefeated AAA State Wrestling Champion and being awarded the school’s designation as Best All-Around Senior Athlete. Thereafter, he attended the University of Virginia on a full NCAA athletic scholarship. He obtained many Dean’s List designations and also received the distinction of twice being named to the Atlantic Coast Conference athletic/academic Honor Roll. He was a four year wrestling team letterman, twice voted team captain and a participant in the NCAA Division I National Championship. Immediately after graduating from UVA, Kris attended the George Mason University School of Law in Arlington, Virginia. After graduating from law school in the spring of 1992, Kris spent the summer in Chapel Hill, NC preparing to take the North Carolina Bar Exam offered in July, 1992. He successfully passed that test and upon notification of his acceptance to the NC Bar was sworn in as a licensed attorney during the September, 1992 session of Dare County Criminal Superior Court.
Kris is past President of the NC First Judicial District Bar Association which encompasses seven counties. He is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the North Carolina Advocates for Justice (formerly the NC Academy of Trial Lawyers) as well as the American and North Carolina Bar Associations.
An active member in the community, Kris is a past President of the First Flight Rotary Club located in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, a member of the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce and a youth sports coach. He currently serves as Chairman of the Pastoral Council of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church located in Kitty Hawk, NC and resides on the Outer Banks with his wife, Melissa, and their four children.