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Misdemeanor Charges

Misdemeanor Charges

Since the punishment for misdemeanor offenses carry significant jail and or prison time, it is always a good idea to know the possible penalties for misdemeanor charges pending against you and determine a strategy on how you will deal with the charges. Consulting a defense attorney is a great starting point to acquire an understanding of the charges and a strategy to deal with them.

Contact us for a free consultation with an attorney so we can discuss the specifics of your case.

What Is A Misdemeanor?

A crime that is punishable by less than one full year of incarceration or jail is considered a criminal misdemeanor under Wisconsin law. Time may be served in a prison or jail depending on the nature and number of the misdemeanor convictions one has. It should be pointed out that there are other penalties that courts order after misdemeanor convictions. A person facing these types of charges should inquire into what exact penalties are possible for the individual misdemeanor charge(s) they are facing.

At Smerlinski Law Office, we have helped clients get acquittals for many different misdemeanor charges over the years. Contact us for a free consultation where we can discuss the individual facts of your case.

Misdemeanor Examples

Here are some examples of the most common misdemeanors. Even if your charges aren’t listed below we can help. We have helped clients with a wide variety of misdemeanor charges over the years.

Disorderly Conduct
A disorderly conduct charge may be issued against an individual for a variety of reasons. This type of charge is by far the broadest type of misdemeanor crime under Wisconsin statutes and can be charged on almost any set of circumstances. While a disorderly conduct is usually a lower misdemeanor carrying lesser jail exposure, a criminal disorderly conduct conviction will result in a criminal record.  It is important that individuals charged with this offense understand the nature of the charge and all possible defenses.
The amount of property that is involved and the facts surrounding the crime make a big difference in a theft case. Defending this type of case normally means understanding the amount of property that has been taken and circumstances that surround it.
Battery involves the use of physical force against someone without that person’s consent. The circumstances surrounding this offense vary from situation to situation and can lead to other penalties besides jail. There are certain battery cases that carry a penalty that can lead to the loss of privileges to buy firearms from retail gun dealers.
Bail Jumping
A bail jump is defined under Wisconsin statutes as intentionally violating a condition of bond in a criminal case that is pending against the accused. This is to say that when an individual is arrested the Court will issue a bond that requires the individual to either do or not do certain activities. An individual’s unwillingness to follow the bond conditions set by a Court can result in an offense that involves criminal law administration. It is extremely important that the individual circumstances of the crime be examined to determine if there has been a bond violation and if that violation amounts to a criminal offense. A conviction for a bail jump can later cause trouble getting a signature bond for any future criminal charges because the nature of the charge, in some judge’s minds,  indicate an unwillingness to follow Court orders.

Other Misdemeanor Crimes

There are numerous possible misdemeanors that can be charged under Wisconsin law. It is always wise to seek the advice of a defense attorney to determine the nature of the charges you face and the extent of penalties that exist upon conviction. By doing this, in most cases, it will result in maintaining your individual freedom from incarceration.