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If you’ve been convicted of a Class B felony in Missouri and are wondering whether expungement is possible, the answer isn’t a simple yes or no. It depends entirely on the specific offense, not the felony classification. Unlike Class A felonies, which are categorically banned from expungement under RSMo § 610.140, Missouri law does not automatically disqualify Class B felonies. Some can be expunged while others cannot, depending entirely on what the underlying offense was.
This is an important distinction that many people, and unfortunately some online legal resources, get wrong. The felony class tells you how serious the punishment is; it doesn’t tell you whether your record can be cleared. This article explains how Missouri’s expungement law actually works, which Class B felonies are permanently ineligible, which may qualify, and what determines the outcome for your specific conviction.
Understanding Missouri's Felony Classification System
Missouri organizes felony offenses into five classes, A through E, based on severity. Under RSMo § 558.011, Class A felonies carry the harshest sentences of 10 to 30 years or life in prison, while Class E felonies sit at the lower end with sentences up to four years. Class B felonies fall near the top of that range, carrying prison terms of 5 to 15 years. Common Class B felonies in Missouri include first-degree assault, first-degree burglary, voluntary manslaughter, and second-degree drug trafficking.
When it comes to expungement, Missouri’s classification system only creates one hard rule: Class A felonies are automatically ineligible, with no exceptions. Every other felony class, including Class B, requires an offense-by-offense analysis against the prohibited list in RSMo § 610.140.2. This means two people with Class B felony convictions can have completely different expungement outcomes based solely on what their specific offense was.
For a broader overview of how Missouri’s expungement law works and what the eligibility process looks like, our detailed guide covers the full framework.
Class B Felonies That CANNOT Be Expunged
While Class B felonies aren’t automatically disqualified, a significant number of them fall under categories that Missouri law permanently excludes from expungement. The most common disqualifiers that apply to Class B offenses include:
Felony assault offenses. All felony assault convictions are permanently ineligible under RSMo § 610.140.2(5), regardless of degree or classification.
Sexual offenses. Any Class B felony conviction that requires sex offender registration is permanently excluded. This covers offenses listed in Chapter 566 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, including rape and statutory rape.
Dangerous felonies. This is the category most people miss. Many Class B offenses, including first-degree burglary, qualify as dangerous felonies under RSMo § 556.061, making them permanently ineligible regardless of how much time has passed.
Felonies where death is an element. Voluntary manslaughter is a Class B felony in Missouri and is permanently barred from expungement.
Felony kidnapping. All degrees of felony kidnapping are excluded without exception.
For a complete breakdown of every ineligible offense category and what each one covers, see our full guide on what crimes are ineligible for expungement in Missouri.
Class B Felonies That MAY Be Expungeable
If your Class B felony conviction doesn’t fall under any of the prohibited categories above, it may be eligible for expungement under Missouri’s general expungement statute. Missouri law currently makes more than 1,900 offenses eligible for record clearing, and a number of those are felony-level convictions.
Class B felonies that may qualify include certain second-degree drug trafficking offenses, some theft and property crimes classified at the Class B level, and certain financial crimes not specifically enumerated in RSMo § 610.140.2(6). The key word in each of those examples is “certain.” Even within these categories, the specific statute number your conviction falls under determines whether it’s eligible.
To qualify for expungement, you must also meet all of the following requirements regardless of the offense:
- 3-year waiting period after completing your full sentence, including probation, parole, and payment of all fines and restitution
- No subsequent convictions of any kind during the waiting period
- No pending charges at the time you file your petition
- Lifetime limit of no more than two felony expungements total
If you’re unsure whether your specific Class B felony qualifies, the Missouri expungement eligibility questionnaire is a good starting point for evaluating where you stand.
Why "Class B" Alone Doesn't Answer the Question
The most important takeaway from this article is that the felony class label is the wrong starting point when evaluating expungement eligibility. Searching “can a Class B felony be expunged” returns conflicting answers online precisely because the class itself doesn’t determine the outcome. The specific offense does.
The table below illustrates this clearly using five of the most commonly charged Class B felonies in Missouri:
| Conviction | Felony Class | Expungeable? | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
Second-Degree Drug Trafficking | Class B | Potentially Yes | Not on prohibited list under RSMo § 610.140.2 |
First-Degree Domestic Assault | Class B | No | All domestic assault offenses permanently prohibited |
First-Degree Assault | Class B | No | All felony assault offenses categorically excluded |
First-Degree Burglary | Class B | No | Dangerous felony under RSMo § 556.061 |
Voluntary Manslaughter | Class B | No | Death is an element of the offense |
Same felony class, completely different outcomes. The class label tells you the sentencing range; it tells you nothing reliable about whether your record can be cleared. This is where a lot of misleading information online causes real harm, including on some law firm FAQ pages that oversimplify the answer by framing eligibility as simply a question of violent versus non-violent offenses. That framing is inaccurate and incomplete.
The only reliable way to determine your eligibility is to locate your exact statute number from your court documents and check it against the prohibited list in RSMo § 610.140.2. General answers about felony classes will not get you there.
Eligibility Requirements If Your Class B Felony Qualifies
If your specific Class B felony offense doesn’t appear on the prohibited list, you still need to meet all of Missouri’s general expungement requirements before you can file a petition. Meeting the offense eligibility test is only the first step.
Waiting period. You must wait 3 years after completing your full sentence before filing. That clock starts after probation ends, all fines are paid, and all restitution is satisfied, not from your conviction date.
Clean record. You cannot have any subsequent misdemeanor or felony convictions during the waiting period. Even a minor conviction resets your eligibility.
No pending charges. You must have no open cases or pending charges of any kind at the time you file your petition.
Financial obligations satisfied. All court-ordered fines, fees, and restitution must be paid in full before filing.
Lifetime limits. Missouri caps felony expungements at a maximum of two in a lifetime. If you have multiple felony convictions, you’ll need to evaluate which ones to prioritize.
Public welfare standard. The court must find that granting the expungement is consistent with the public welfare. This is a discretionary standard, and it’s one reason having legal representation for a felony expungement matters more than it does for straightforward misdemeanor cases.
Not sure where your conviction stands? The Missouri Courts expungement resources page provides official guidance on the petition process once you’ve confirmed your eligibility.
The Bottom Line on Class B Felony Expungement
Class B felony expungement in Missouri is possible for some people and permanently out of reach for others. The determining factor is never the felony class — it’s always the specific offense. If your conviction falls under a prohibited category like felony assault, dangerous felonies, or sexual offenses, no amount of time or rehabilitation changes that outcome. But if your specific offense doesn’t appear on the prohibited list under RSMo § 610.140.2, expungement may be within reach once you’ve met the waiting period and eligibility requirements.
The worst thing you can do is rely on a general answer about felony classes when your specific statute number is what actually matters. Before you assume you’re ineligible or file a petition that gets denied, get a case-specific evaluation from an attorney who knows Missouri expungement law.
At STL Expungement Law, we handle felony expungement cases across Missouri every day. Contact us to find out exactly where your Class B felony conviction stands and what your realistic options are.
