Ventura First Time Misdemeanor Offense Attorney
Typically all misdemeanors in California carry penalties of up to 6 months in jail & up to $1,000 fine. As judges are able to dictate the sentence, it is rare for a first time offender to be sent to jail for a misdemeanor, but it depends on the crime & the record of the individual on trial.
There are three types of criminal offenses:
- 1) Infractions: any offense punishable by at MOST a fine only (think traffic tickets);
- 2) Misdemeanors: any offense punishable by at MOST one year of local time in custody (think petty offenses such as some DUIs, thefts, battery, some narcotics offenses);
- 3) Felonies: any offense for which an individual can be sentenced to over one year of custody time (offenses like murder, felony DUIs, white collar crimes, sex crimes).
Some offenses can be charged as either one or more of these "Levels." For example, Petty Theft may be a misdemeanor but may also be an infraction. Another example would be Possession of a Controlled Substance may be charged as a Felony but might also be charged as a misdemeanor in some cases. Usually, the nature of the offense determines the punishment that will be requested by the prosecutor. The more egregious the offense is, the more severe the punishment.
Factors that aggravate or increase the punishment include but are not limited to the following:
- sophistication behind the criminal activity
- harm to the victims (if there is one)
- the perpetrator's criminal history.
Factors that mitigate or decrease the punishment include but are not limited to the perpetrators lack of criminal history, the fact that steps have been made to make the victim whole (if theft alleged, monies have been paid to compensate the victim) and willingness to acknowledge responsibility early in the criminal litigation.
One of the main reasons to hire a good, competent criminal defense attorney is that he will be familiar in handling cases such as yours and can limit your exposure or minimize the punishments you will face. This can be done by ensuring that restitution has been paid to victims to minimize the pressure they will put on the Court to punish.
The answer to the question posed above of whether or not someone is going to jail depends on many factors. Hiring an experienced criminal defense attorney early gives that attorney the best chance to help you stay out of custody and minimize any negative outcomes. Often, if consulted early, a defense attorney can provide additional information to the prosecuting office, which may in turn stop or limit the prosecution.
1st Time Misdemeanor Legal Counsel
If you, or a loved one, are facing criminal charges, do not wait to consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney. At Wilfert Law P.C., we have decades of experience in criminal law within the unique jurisdiction of Ventura County. We know how cases are prosecuted and how they can be defended.
Please take the opportunity to give us a call for a FREE consultation with an experienced Ventura Defense Attorney. We can and will help you to sort out what you are looking at and find that light at the end of the tunnel.