Misdemeanors

Minnesota Misdemeanors Lawyer & Attorney

There are three kinds of misdemeanors in Minnesota. There is the misdemeanor, petty misdemeanor, and gross misdemeanor. Petty misdemeanors are the least severe with a regular misdemeanor being a step above that. Most individuals do not pay any mind to a misdemeanor offense because they consider them minor. However, such a charge on your permanent record can have some rather interesting consequences, such as the inability to work in a specific profession because a clean record is required.

If you have been charged with a misdemeanor, you do not have to sit back and take the charges. While it can be tempting to accept the charges so you can end the process as quickly as possible, doing so comes with consequences. Your Mankato misdemeanor attorney will work with you, advise you, and advocate for you so you can receive the best end result and have a much better future.

Petty Misdemeanors

Even though petty misdemeanors are not considered crimes and no jail sentences occur, you should still fight it because a speeding conviction, stop sign violation, or another petty misdemeanor traffic offense can cause a black mark on your driving record that you may not be able to afford. Yes, the punishment is simply a fine that is no more than $300, but your clean driving record is compromised.

It is also possible for a petty misdemeanor to be upgraded to a full misdemeanor if certain circumstances are present. For instance, a person is convicted of their third traffic offense within a one year period. This is going to result in the charge being a misdemeanor rather than a petty misdemeanor.

Misdemeanors

If a charge is upgraded to a misdemeanor, it is possible to have to spend up to 90 days in jail for a misdemeanor offense. While petty misdemeanors make up a majority of traffic offenses, misdemeanors cover traffic offenses, first offense DWIs, shoplifting, property crimes, and various others. If you work for an employer who requires a clean criminal record, then a misdemeanor can cause you to lose your job. It can then be difficult to find a job with adequate pay if that is on your record. In some cases, you can have your record expunged after two years, but two years is a long time for your income potential to be limited.

With your experienced Southern Minnesota misdemeanors lawyer working with you, you can have a misdemeanor downgraded to a petty misdemeanor, if possible, or the case could be dismissed. Even if it is not dismissed, it is possible to be acquitted. If the prosecution’s evidence is weak or there is reasonable doubt that you are guilty, then you cannot be convicted.

Contact A Mankato Misdemeanors Lawyer

If you have been charged with a misdemeanor, you do not have to sit back and take the charges against you. Instead, you can fight for your rights and freedom from a criminal record. Even misdemeanors can cause difficulty getting a job, finding a place to live, and doing anything that requires a background check. To learn more about how Birkholz Law, LLC can help you, call the St. James office at 507-375-3374, the Mankato office at 507-387-2100, or the Westbrook office at 507-274-6501 to schedule your free case evaluation.