Southern California’s top criminal defense attorney, Dan Chambers, recently decided to create and publish a 21-part video series that explains many aspects of both felony and misdemeanor cases. It’s just one more example of his commitment to providing his clients and potential clients with the most up-to-date information about the criminal process, criminal procedures, and the California court system in general.
This blog and video zero in on one specific question: What are the consequences for a misdemeanor?
Naturally, it depends on the misdemeanor you’ve been charged with, and it also depends on your specific criminal record, or lack of one, as well as a whole host of other factors. This blog and video will explain the consequences for the most common misdemeanor charges.
DUI misdemeanor conviction consequences
DUI is a relatively common misdemeanor charge here in Southern California. If you’re a first time offender and your case doesn’t involve any aggravating factors (such as an accident, someone else was injured, or a very high blood alcohol level), it’s very likely that you won’t have to serve any time in jail.
That’s very good news, but there’s bad news, too – fines will run you about $2,100, you’ll have to complete a drunk driving class, a victim impact panel, and maybe even some community service. It’s also very likely that you’ll be placed on 3 years of summary probation, and if you live in certain Southern Californian counties, it could be up to 5 years of probation.
So while misdemeanor DUI consequences don’t include jail time, they do include some other harsh penalties.
Spousal or domestic abuse conviction consequences
Spousal or domestic abuse is taken very seriously by the district attorney’s office, and it can be charged as a misdemeanor or as a felony, depending on the circumstances of the case. If it is charged as a misdemeanor, there still exists the possibility of jail time, particularly in Orange County and certain other counties throughout Southern California. The amount of jail time that’s required varies depending on the injuries involved, but you could have to be in county jail for up to one year. You could also be required to be on probation for a number of years.
Petty theft and drug possession conviction consequences
Other most common misdemeanor charges that occur include petty theft and drug possession charges. Assuming you have no record, if you’re charged with either one of these crimes, you can get deferred entry of judgment. This means that you can enter your plea, and then go and complete a class about theft or drug crime prevention. Upon completion of the class, you can actually get the case dismissed, and it won’t appear on your criminal record at all.
However, if you do find yourself being sentenced for one of these charges, you most likely won’t have to deal with doing any jail time. You’ll probably have to be on probation for 3 years, you’ll have to complete a course that’s relevant to the charges you were convicted of, you’ll have to pay fines consisting of several hundred dollars, and there may be other penalties as well.
Contact the Chambers Law Firm now
There are lots of other misdemeanor charges that come up in Southern California. Whether your case is one of the ones listed above or a totally different one, you need personalized legal advice and representation. As a prospective client, you’re welcome to come speak with Dan Chambers at the Chambers Law Firm about your case. Schedule your appointment now by calling 714-760-4088, emailing dchambers@clfca.com, or by using the chat box below.
