If you are arrested and charged with a misdemeanor, it is easy to dismiss it as “just a misdemeanor.” That would be a mistake. Yes, even the least serious felonies carry more serious penalties than any misdemeanor, but that does not diminish the seriousness of what conviction of a misdemeanor can bring. I can potentially affect your ability to get the job of your choice, to get federal aid for financing your education, or to rent a place to live. Obviously, those things and other serious repercussions from having a criminal record can depend upon what misdemeanor charge for which you are convicted. Still, at a bare minimum a misdemeanor conviction will cost you money, and could cost you some time behind bars, as well.
Misdemeanor Penalties Can be Steeper Than You Think
It can be a little difficult to get some people to take a misdemeanor charge seriously. Many people facing such charges do not think they need a lawyer because, let’s face it, how bad could the sentence on a misdemeanor charge be? That attitude frequently lasts right up until they are sentenced. You can spend time in jail and pay a stiff fine for a conviction on most misdemeanors. There are three classes of misdemeanors – listed from least to worst serious in terms of potential sentences, those classes are:
- Class C misdemeanors, which are punishable by a maximum fine of $500, and often much less. Class C misdemeanors carry no potential jail time, and conviction of a Class C misdemeanor won’t affect your ability to own a gun, vote, or any other legal rights. Class C misdemeanors include most traffic offenses, drunk in public, writing bad checks of less than $20, and disorderly conduct, among others. Small wonder most people don’t worry about misdemeanors.
- Class B misdemeanors, on the other hand, do carry the possibility of jail time. A Class B misdemeanor could be punished by a fine of no more than $2,000, a stay in the county jail for up to 180 days, or both. If you have a prior conviction on a felony charge, or for a Class A or Class B misdemeanor, you will serve a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 days in jail.
- Finally, Class A misdemeanors can be punished with a fine of up to $4,000, a year in the county jail, or both. Further, if you have a prior conviction for a Class A misdemeanor, you will get a mandatory minimum sentence of 90 days in the county lockup. Other factors also can result in a mandatory minimum sentence.
If You Have Been Charged With a Misdemeanor in Houston, Talk to Madrid Law Firm
Facing a misdemeanor charge might not seem like all that big of a deal. After all, it is “just” a misdemeanor. You do not want to find out the hard way that conviction of a misdemeanor is not a good thing. If you are convicted, you can suffer consequences that could completely change your life. If you are charged with a misdemeanor in the Houston area, you should contact Madrid Law Firm to see what we can do for you.
