Misdemeanor Criminal Defense Strategies
Many criminal defense attorneys view misdemeanor offenses as “minor” problems or “lower level” cases, and may spend a minimum amount of time on preparing your defense. This is an unacceptable approach to take when your reputation and future financial well-being are on the line. Every criminal charge MUST be defended as the serious matter that it is. A conviction, or even a record of an arrest, can negatively affect your ability to get a good job, to be admitted to certain educational institutions or be licensed in certain occupations. Additionally, many misdemeanor crimes carry extra penalties like license suspensions and hidden financial charges placed upon citizens by various state agencies if you are convicted. Avoiding a misdemeanor conviction can also prevent you from receiving felony in the future due to a prior conviction.
Evans and Peek regularly defends people charged with DWI and other misdemeanor offenses. We take the same committed approach to these cases as we do to a major felony case. Evans and Peek work as hard as possible to achieve the best results for our clients. If you are serious about fighting the charge or charges you are facing, contact us today.
Classification of Misdemeanors
Misdemeanor criminal offenses are divided into one of the following three categories in Texas, depending on the seriousness of the offense:
Class A misdemeanors – Punishable by a fine not to exceed $4,000, confinement in the county jail for a term not to exceed one year, or both such fine and confinement. Persons convicted of a Class A misdemeanor offense may be placed under community supervision. Assault Bodily Injury is one example of a Class A misdemeanor.
Class B misdemeanors
Punishable by a fine not to exceed $2,000, confinement in the county jail for a term not to exceed 180 days, or both such fine and confinement. Persons convicted of a Class B misdemeanor offense may be placed under community supervision. A first offense DWI is one example of a Class B Misdemeanor.
Class C misdemeanors
Punishable by a fine not to exceed $500. As there is no jail sentence possible, regular probation cannot be given in these cases. However, a special deferred adjudication probation is a possibility for many first time offenders. This type of probation results in no conviction once the case is resolved. Speeding is one example of a Class C Misdemeanor.
Some Common Misdemeanor Offenses
| Assault (Bodily Injury-Family)
Assault (Bodily Injury) Assault (Family Violence) Assault (Offensive Touching) Boating While Intoxicated Burglary of Vehicle Possession of Alcohol in Motor Vehicle Criminal Mischief Criminal Trespass Deadly Conduct Discharge of Firearm in Certain Municipalities Disorderly Conduct Disturbing a Public Meeting or Procession Dog Fighting Driving While License Invalid Driving While License Suspended Driving With No License DWI 1st DWI 2nd Evading Arrest or Detention Fail to Stop & Give Info Failure to ID Failure to ID w/ Warrant Flying While Intoxicated Forgery Gambling Harboring Runaway Child Bombs Indecent Exposure Issuance of Bad Check |
Minor Consuming Alcohol
Minor in Possession of Alcohol Minor in Possession of Tobacco No Insurance No Registration Obstructing Highway or Other Passageway Obstruction or Retaliation Possession of a Dangerous Drug Possession of a Prohibited Weapon Possession of Marijuana (0-2 oz.) Possession of Marijuana (2-4 oz.) Preventing Execution of Civil Process Prohibited Sexual Conduct Prohibited Weapons Prostitution Providing Alcohol to a Minor Public Intoxication Public Lewdness Reckless Driving Resisting Arrest, Search, or Transportation Terroristic Threat Theft Theft of Service Theft of Telecommunications Service Theft (by Check) Unlawful Carry of a Weapon Unlawful Carrying of Handgun by License Holder Unlawful Use of Criminal Instrument Violation of Protective Order or Magistrate Order |