Even though a misdemeanor is a less severe charge than a felony, it is still a crime. To have the best possible outcome, you need a Fort Myers criminal defense team to represent you in and out of court.
For a crime to be a misdemeanor or felony, certain factors will be taken into account. It will depend on the value of a stolen item or the amount of a controlled substance allegedly in your possession. Repeated violations of the same misdemeanor crime could raise the charge to a felony, which is precisely why you need an attorney in Fort Myers like Patrick McClain who is well-versed in these situations.
In Fort Myers, Florida, misdemeanors have two classes – first degree and second degree.
A second degree misdemeanor is the less serious of the two charges. If you are facing a second degree misdemeanor, you may be incarcerated for up to 60 days in jail and pay up to $500 in fines. For a first degree misdemeanor, incarceration could be up to one year and fines up to $1,000. Since these could show up on your permanent record, you will want a Fort Myers criminal defense lawsuit that can stand up to the prosecution’s attempts to put you away.