Reasons to Hire a Misdemeanor Attorney

Under Missouri law, criminal charges are separated into three categories: Felonies, Misdemeanors, and Infractions. Even though misdemeanors appear in the middle category, dealing with misdemeanors should still be taken seriously as they can result in large monetary fines and possible jail time. The state of Missouri classifies misdemeanors into four categories, with Class A being the most severe and decreasing in severity to Class D. For a Class A misdemeanor, the maximum penalty is up to one year in jail.

What to understand about a misdemeanor

• In Missouri, the majority of misdemeanors have a statute of limitations of one year, meaning Missouri cannot charge anybody with a crime one year after the criminal act
• Unless the charge is expunged from a person’s criminal record, misdemeanors could impact employment or housing opportunities
• Depending on the circumstances of the situation, certain crimes could be considered either misdemeanors or felonies, such as driving while intoxicated

The Importance of having a misdemeanor attorney

Most people do not have adequate or working knowledge of criminal law to handle this situation.  In addition, most people when being charged at the police station or questioned by police are so stressed that they may inadvertently say something that could later be used by Missouri to prove their case. Hiring a misdemeanor attorney experienced in handling misdemeanor charges is crucial to defending oneself from a crime.

The reality is that the prosecution and the state of Missouri hold their cards close to their chest as their interest is in prosecuting crime and wrongdoing. However, certain rights still exist, which an attorney can assist and advise upon. These rights can include an attorney being able to easily identify a piece of evidence. This piece of evidence may not have been disclosed and could be helpful to a person’s situation. 

In addition, hiring a misdemeanor attorney at an early stage of the criminal process has many benefits, including: 

• Protecting one’s rights during interrogation, especially regarding written and verbal statements and settlement offers
• Increasing the prospects of lower charges being filed
• Increasing the prospects of no charges being filed
• Negotiating or working with prosecutors for a possible settlement
• Interviewing relevant third parties
• Ensuring no evidence which the prosecution might use was not obtained illegally
• Conducting their own investigation before trial, verifying whether the charges are legitimate
• Hiring possible defense third-parties, such as experts, to testify on the defense’s behalf

Even though a misdemeanor charge may not seem like a big deal, the reality is that any criminal charge should be taken seriously. Considering the fact that any misdemeanor charge on a person’s record can have unanticipated consequences throughout the remainder of a person’s life, hiring a misdemeanor attorney is the most effective way to ensure that a small unfortunate event does not grow into a much larger issue. 

Call (417) 865-2181 to schedule a consultation with Dean Price Law in our Springfield office. NOTE: This is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

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