Misdemeanor Defense in Central California
In
California, misdemeanors are crimes that are
considered less serious than felonies but
can lead to jail time of up to one year and
fines totaling $2000 (plus penalties and
assessments).
In California criminal offenses are
classified as infractions, misdemeanors, or
felonies. The difference in sentencing to
each offense is below.
Infractions such as traffic violations are
punishable by a fine and no jail time.
Misdemeanors are crimes that carry a less
severe punishment than a felony.
Felonies
are serious offenses that generally carry a
jail sentence of one year or more.
A misdemeanor will likely show up on a
background check. Being convicted of one can
have devastating effects in the life of the
accused. In some cases, a misdemeanor can be
raised to the level of a
felony.
Under certain
circumstances, a misdemeanor may be charged
as a felony, depending on the following
factors, including:
The seriousness of the crime
Injuries to the victim
The defendant’s prior criminal record
Certain prior criminal offenses can elevate
a crime from a misdemeanor to a
felony.
Criminal offenses that will most likely increase the risk of
having your misdemeanor elevated to a
felony, include:
Petty Theft / Shoplifting
Domestic Violence
If you are charged with a felony, misdemeanor, driving under the influence (DUI), or traffic offense in Fresno, Madera, Kings, or Tulare Counties, contact the Law Offices of Tina M. Barberi immediately to discuss your case.