Misdemeanor Charges

 
Compared to a felony, a misdemeanor is relatively minor.  But you should still consult with an experienced Sacramento CA criminal lawyer. However, a misdemeanor still has tremendous consequences, both direct and indirectly, which can affect you for the rest of your life.  The direct consequences are those imposed by the judge.  Although these are lower than those of felonies, it does not mean that it will not affect you, your family or friends.  It is possible to spend up to a year in jail or even 2.5 in some jurisdictions.   The more misdemeanor offenses you have, the longer you are more likely to stay in jail.  The fines for misdemeanors range from $1,000 to $2,500.  Additionally, you might be required to complete mandatory classes like an alcohol or drug abuse program.  Further restrictions include court supervision or community service that affects your daily life.

The most important consequence is long term i.e. the criminal record that will follow you for the rest of your life until you get it expunged.  Such a record can lead to additional collateral consequences like the ineligibility for public housing or other public benefits, especially if you were involved with drug or alcohol related activities.  You will lose the right to own a firearm in addition to a driver’s license suspension.  These two are most prevalent with drug and alcohol convictions.  Without a doubt, you will have trouble getting a job.  Most states have laws that prohibit discrimination because of a criminal record, but this is hard to enforce.  If you are an immigrant and have been charged with a misdemeanor, there is a possibility of deportation.  All of these potential consequences make hiring a criminal defense attorney critical.

There’s no substitute for a strong Sacramento CA criminal lawyer,
call Wing & Parisi at (916) 441-4888.

The Law Office of Wing & Parisi serves clients in the Sacramento and Davis communities as well as throughout
Placer County and San Joaquin County. Hablamos espanol.