Lawyers in College Station and Waco representing cases across Texas
(979) 406-5756 (254) 781-3416 When you are charged with a criminal offense, it will be either a misdemeanor or a felony. A misdemeanor is usually a lesser charge than a felony with less severe penalties. However, you should not take these charges lightly. A misdemeanor can still lead to a conviction that could change the course of your life.
Talk to a Waco misdemeanor lawyer about your criminal charges. Our experienced criminal defense attorneys have extensive legal knowledge and could answer your questions. Rely on us to defend your freedoms so you can win in the courtroom and in life.
Misdemeanors are typically classified as class A, B, or C, with class A being the most severe offenses and class C being the least severe offenses.
If you are convicted of a class A misdemeanor, you may need to pay up to $4,000 in fines and spend up to a year in jail. Examples of class A misdemeanors include assault, theft of property worth $750 to $2,500, second-offense DUI, and resisting arrest.
Being convicted of a class B misdemeanor could result in up to $2,000 in fines and up to 180 days in jail. Examples of class B misdemeanors include possession of up to two ounces of marijuana, first-offense DUI, disorderly conduct, and criminal trespass.
A class C misdemeanor conviction does not result in jail time. You may have to pay up to $500 in fines. Examples of class C misdemeanors include speeding, driving with an invalid license, public intoxication, and making a firearm accessible to a child.
A Waco misdemeanor attorney is knowledgeable about these legal classifications and can explain your charges and penalties in detail.
If you are convicted of a misdemeanor, you could have that conviction on your record for the rest of your life. Fortunately, a legal process called expungement is in place to remove the criminal charge from your record.
As any lawyer in Waco could tell you, having a misdemeanor on your record can negatively affect your life in several ways, including the following:
In Texas, a person can seek an expungement of class C misdemeanors after a 180-day waiting period following the arrest, and an individual with class A or B misdemeanors can seek expungement after a one-year waiting period following the arrest.
An attorney could help you file a petition for expungement, which will explain your reasons for needing your record cleared. The court will schedule a hearing with the petitioner, and the judge will review the case and issue an order. If the expungement is approved, all agencies with records of your offense will be ordered to destroy those records.
A judge may be more likely to order an expungement if you have completed the terms of your sentence, shown evidence of going through rehab, or have only one arrest. Talk to a misdemeanor lawyer in Waco to learn more.
Whether you have received a misdemeanor or multiple charges for the first time, The Greening Law Group is here to help.
We work hard to defend those who have received criminal charges so that they can go on to succeed in the courtroom and life. Schedule an initial consultation with a Waco misdemeanor lawyer today.
979-779-2000