Misdemeanor Charges in Hawaii
Honolulu Criminal Defense Attorney
Misdemeanors are crimes typically punishable by no more than one year in
jail. Fines, probation and / or community service may be added as punishment.
There can be collateral consequences such as driver's license revocation
or professional license interference. There can be full or petty misdemeanors,
but both are still considered criminal convictions. While misdemeanors
are considered less serious than felonies, they still can have a negative
effect on a person's life when, for instance, an employer or landlord
runs a background check.
My Hawaii law firm, The Law Office of Kevin O'Grady, LLC, provides
cutting-edge defense for individuals throughout Honolulu who are faced
with all types of misdemeanors. If you want to work with a
Honolulu criminal defense lawyer who has more than 15 years of legal experience, pick up the phone and
call my office right away!
Penalties for Misdemeanor Convictions
The type of penalty given for a misdemeanor conviction depends on the misdemeanor
classification. Certain misdemeanors are more serious than others. For
example, an assault offense will typically result in harsher penalties
than disorderly conduct. There are, however, a number of other factors
that can impact the severity of the penalties, such as the defendant's
criminal history, or the defendant's ability to secure probation.
A few examples of common misdemeanor crimes include:
- Disorderly conduct
- Vandalism
- Shoplifting
- DUI
- Reckless driving
- Drug possession
- Prostitution
- Open alcohol containers
- Staying in a park at night
- Assault
- Abuse of a family or household member
- Terroristic threatening
A person who is convicted of a misdemeanor will usually face penalties
such as fines, probation, and / or jail time. Prison time will usually
not be a possible penalty, as this punishment is typically reserved for
felony convictions.
The Effects of a Misdemeanor on Your Record
Misdemeanor charges oftentimes have names that amplify the severity of
the alleged crime. Even though the facts of your case might bring to your
mind names such as disorderly conduct, profane language, unlawful or unwanted
touching, or a verbal marital argument, you could be facing charges that
go by the names of terroristic threatening, assault, abuse of a family
or household member, or domestic violence assault. If you don't have
an experienced attorney on your side, you run a greater risk of having
these types of stigmatizing criminal convictions on your record.
Misdemeanors as Priors
You should keep in mind that prosecutors, police officers, and future employers
whom you come across in the future will not view your misdemeanor conviction
as just a minor event, no matter what types of misunderstandings were
involved in your case. They will simply see it as a criminal conviction
and imagine all the worst possible facts for the names associated with
the criminal charge.
Prosecutors will hold it against you in any future cases, even if you are
only in court for a speeding ticket. Legislators also consider this when
naming the crimes and when they attach additional collateral penalties
that might affect your professional license, driver's license, or
ability to keep / bear arms or otherwise exercise your Second Amendment
rights. In fact, there is federal law that specifically embraces
only misdemeanor convictions of a particular character, domestic violence,
broadly defined, to forever extinguish your Second Amendment constitutional
and fundamental right to keep and bear arms in defense of yourself, your
family, and your property.
Contact My Hawaii Firm for Legal Counsel
Some misdemeanors cannot be expunged or set aside. Even if a crime is designated
as a misdemeanor, hire an experienced attorney to protect your good name
and future. I am a former prosecutor and former law enforcement officer
who knows how to properly navigate the criminal justice system!
Call The Law Office of Kevin O'Grady, LLC for a free initial consultation!