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.
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)
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 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