Friend charge with two fifth degree felonies...what does this mean?

The higher the degree the *less* serious it is. So, for example, a murder would be a first degree felony. Fifth degree doesn't sound that serious but I guess it depends on the state. Sorry, I couldn't find the definitions of the different degrees but here's some information of a felony:

Felony: Felonies are considered the most serious types of crimes, and each state has different punishments for these offenses. A standard definition of a felony is any crime punishable by more than one year in prison or by death for capital offenses like first-degree murder. Unlike misdemeanors, defendants convicted of felonies serve their sentences in a state or federal prison rather than a local, city or county jail. Additional criminal procedures apply with felonies, and the right to a court-appointed lawyer if the defendant can’t afford one is one of the rights guaranteed in felony cases. Also, whether or not the defendant has to appear in court for various parts of the criminal justice process also depends on whether or not he or she is being charged with a felony.

In some jurisdictions, felonies can only be charged upon a grand jury indictment, while lesser crimes can be charged by a written complaint or information. Check with a qualified Lead Counsel criminal law lawyer in your state for your state’s procedure for charging a misdemeanor or felony crime.

In the case of a felony charge, not only are the procedural laws different than they are for misdemeanors, but the substantive laws can also be affected. For example, under some statutes an accidental death would be considered a murder if it occurs in the commission of a felony--like armed robbery or kidnapping. However, if it occurs in the commission of a lesser crime like a DUI, it is only manslaughter. The common law definition of a burglary is breaking and entering a house for the purpose of committing a felony; if the purpose was not to commit a felony the crime cannot be charged as burglary.

A person convicted of a felony will usually have more restrictions on their rights (collateral consequences) than a person convicted of a misdemeanor. For example, in many jurisdictions, convicted felons cannot serve on juries. They may also lose their right to vote or to practice certain professions, such as lawyer or teacher. Felons may also be prohibited from owning guns or serving in the military, and they may also have to register as an offender (e.g., sex offender, narcotics offender).

Fifth Degree Felony