To Meet With One Of Our Attorneys, Give Us A Call At –
260-424-0600
In Indiana, less serious criminal offenses fall into the category of misdemeanor crimes. Indiana law organizes misdemeanors into three classes, depending on the severity of the crime: Class A (the most serious offenses), Class B, and Class C misdemeanors (the least serious crimes). Although a misdemeanor charge may involve a less severe crime, you should still take your situation seriously, as a conviction can have long-lasting consequences for your reputation and future.
Contact Myers & Wallace, LLP, for an initial case evaluation with a knowledgeable misdemeanor crimes defense lawyer to discuss how we can help you seek a favorable outcome to your charges.
Although a misdemeanor charge may not seem like a significant legal issue, a conviction can have life-altering effects, including the potential for incarceration and a criminal record. As a result, you need experienced legal guidance to pursue the best possible resolution to your charges. Let a criminal defense attorney from Myers & Wallace, LLP, help you resolve misdemeanor charges because:
Under Indiana law, misdemeanors refer to less serious criminal offenses. They typically include nonviolent crimes that do not involve substantial financial losses for victims, violent offenses that result in no or minor injuries for victims, low-level drug offenses, traffic offenses, or breaches of public peace. Due to their less serious nature, misdemeanor convictions impose less harsh penalties than felony offenses. Misdemeanor sentences may include less than a year in incarceration, probation, or hundreds to thousands of dollars in fines.
Examples of misdemeanor crimes in Indiana include:
For some misdemeanor offenses, aggravating circumstances like more serious injuries suffered by victims or the commission of the offense while possessing a deadly weapon can increase the grading of the offense from a misdemeanor to a felony. Similarly, a court may have the discretion to reduce the grading of a Level 6 felony to a Class A misdemeanor under certain circumstances.
Under Indiana law, potential penalties imposed for a misdemeanor conviction include:
In some cases, a court may choose to impose probation instead of incarceration. Probation allows a defendant to serve their sentence in the community under specific conditions and supervision by probation officers. Defendants who violate the terms of their probation may have their probation term revoked and must serve a term of incarceration.
Although some defendants may avoid the harshest penalties for a misdemeanor conviction, a conviction will still result in a defendant having a criminal record. A criminal record can appear in background checks, making it more challenging for individuals to pursue employment, housing, financial, or educational opportunities due to the stigma of a criminal conviction.
Given the potentially life-altering effects of a misdemeanor conviction, it’s important to secure qualified legal representation as soon as possible following an arrest to safeguard your rights.
Following an arrest for a misdemeanor offense, taking specific steps can help protect your rights and interests and put you in a more favorable position to seek a positive outcome in your case. Things you should do after a misdemeanor arrest include:
Given the less serious nature of misdemeanor charges, you might wonder whether you need an attorney to help you resolve your misdemeanor case. However, failing to obtain legal counsel may result in serious consequences.
A criminal defense attorney can help you seek a more favorable outcome to your case. Depending on the facts and circumstances of your case, a defense lawyer may secure a dismissal of your charges or successfully advocate on your behalf at trial to obtain an acquittal. Alternatively, a lawyer can help you minimize the consequences of a conviction, including advocating for a sentence that includes a short jail term, low fines, or probation instead of a jail term. An attorney can also explain your legal options for addressing a criminal record with a misdemeanor conviction.
When you face prosecution for a misdemeanor offense, a criminal defense lawyer from Myers & Wallace, LLP, can give you a better chance of obtaining a favorable resolution to your charges by:
If Indiana police have arrested you for a misdemeanor offense, you need legal counsel to understand the nature of your charges and your legal options. Contact Myers & Wallace, LLP, today for a confidential consultation with a seasoned criminal defense lawyer to discuss how our firm can help protect you from the potential consequences of a misdemeanor conviction.
Myers & Wallace, LLP helps with a wide variety of legal needs throughout Indiana. If you need assistance for a case relating to employment law, civil rights, criminal defense or personal injury call us at 260-424-0600 so we can get started on developing your personalized strategy.
