South Bay criminal defense attorney

Hermosa Beach, California Misdemeanors Lawyer

A Misdemeanor is a criminal law case in which the maximum state prison sentence is one year (crimes punishable by more than one year in state prison are felonies). A misdemeanor is charged and prosecuted by either a district attorney or a city prosecutor.

If you are charged with a misdemeanor in Hermosa Beach, California, you have the constitutional right to choose a criminal attorney to represent you at every point in the case both in and out of court. Most of the time when dealing with misdemeanors, if you hire and retain an attorney you won't even have to show up in court. The attorney can make all of the court appearances for you.

While a misdemeanor is not as serious as a felony, it is much more serious than an infraction such as speeding, which is punishable only by fine. If you are accused of a traffic crime such as DUI, reckless driving, or driving without a license in Hermosa Beach, you will be facing a misdemeanor charge and face the possibility of jail time. If you are accused of a misdemeanor traffic crime, you will have the opportunity to have a trial by jury if you want to have one. Hiring an experienced criminal law attorney will give you a big advantage in negotiating a favorable plea agreement with the prosecution.

Misdemeanor cases such as battery, public intoxication, Misdemeanors, solicitation of prostitution, and other misdemeanor crimes can require the completion of particular types of programs in addition to jail sentences.

Misdemeanor Convictions in Hermosa Beach

In addition, misdemeanor convictions may revoke your right to lawfully possess a gun. If you are convicted of certain misdemeanor crimes (assault, battery, witness intimidation, criminal threats, Misdemeanors, or brandishing a weapon among many others), it becomes a felony offense for you to possess a firearm in the ten years following your conviction.

There was a time in the recent past when misdemeanor offenses were not thought of as particularly serious. However, with the spread of internet databases, misdemeanor offense often end up having far more serious effects than they used to. The consequences of a conviction or guilty plea may be everlasting.

For American citizens, convictions in misdemeanor cases can prevent one from seeking certain types of professional licenses and limit job opportunities in general. It is custom for employers to do background checks and if a misdemeanor conviction shows up on your record, you likely will be excluded from consideration without having the opportunity to explain your side of the story.

For non-citizens, the effects can be devastating as misdemeanor convictions are often looked upon with little tolerance. Even non-citizens who are legally in the United States can be deported or denied citizenship on the basis of a misdemeanor conviction.

Have you been charged with a Misdemeanor in Hermosa Beach, California?

It is common for people charged with misdemeanor criminal offenses to make the mistake of believing that they will not be able to fight government prosecution. This could not be farther from the truth. An experienced criminal law attorney will stand up for your rights against the prosecution and fight aggressively to obtain an acceptable result. Hermosa Beach criminal law attorney Brian A. Newman knows the implications of a misdemeanor conviction and knows how to effectively combat misdemeanor charges with the government.

Call us today at 310.316.6622 and talk with an experienced Hermosa Beach Misdemeanors defense lawyer that will fight for you!

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Experienced criminal defense attorney in Hermosa Beach
Call Mr. Newman directly at (310) 316-6622