Misdemeanor crimes in Tulsa are offenses such as simple assault, battery and public intoxication for which the maximum penalty is a fine and up to 12 months in a county jail. If convicted of a misdemeanor in Tulsa, you may also face difficulty finding employment and housing, have your driver’s license suspended and jeopardize professional certification and licensing.
In addition, some misdemeanor convictions can lead to more serious charges. For example, a first DUI conviction in Tulsa is usually prosecuted as a misdemeanor; however, a second or subsequent DUI conviction within a ten-year period may be prosecuted as a felony. For these reasons, defending a misdemeanor charge in Tulsa should be regarded in as serious a manner as a felony charge.
Defending a Misdemeanor in Tulsa
It is not uncommon for individuals to choose to represent themselves when charged with a misdemeanor offense; however, this choice most often yields less than desirable results.
Judges have broad discretion in terms of how they sentence a person convicted of a misdemeanor. You may be ordered to pay fines and make restitution to the victim(s), given a suspended or deferred sentence, sentenced to probation or given the maximum amount of jail time available.
This wide range of sentencing possibilities can be advantageous to your defense, and it is all the more reason to employ an experienced defense attorney who can advocate on your behalf to obtain the best possible result for the misdemeanor charge(s) against you.
An experienced defense attorney can help you in defending a misdemeanor charge in a number of different ways:
Getting the charges dropped
In defending a misdemeanor charge, your defense attorney can intervene early with the state to persuade them to the charges against you. Just because you have been arrested does not mean that the state has to prosecute you. Often, there may be factual or legal evidence that your attorney can present to the state that may persuade them not to proceed with the charges against you.
Getting the charges reduced
Secondly, because Tulsa jails are often overcrowded, the state’s attorney’s office may be motivated to accept a plea bargain, wherein you agree to plead guilty in exchange for a reduction in the charges against you. This will often result in you spending little or no time in jail.
Obtaining a deferred sentence
You may also have the possibility to apply for a deferred sentence when defending your misdemeanor charge in order to avoid a conviction altogether. This means that, given your limited criminal history, the state’s attorney agrees to dismiss the charges against you if you plead guilty and agree to perform certain tasks. If you successfully perform these tasks, the state will dismiss the charges against you.
Obtaining a suspended sentence
If you do not qualify for a deferred sentence, you may be eligible for a suspended sentence, where even though you have been sentenced to serve time behind bars, the judge suspends your sentence upon your continued good behavior. If you fully comply with the conditions set forth by the judge, you will not have to serve time in jail.
Expunging your criminal record
Later, after defending a misdemeanor charge, your attorney may be able to assist you in sealing and expunging your criminal record in order to erase any evidence of you being charged with a crime. This will allow you to deny that the incident ever occurred.
Free Consultation: Tulsa Misdemeanor Defense Lawyer
If you’ve been arrested for a misdemeanor in Tulsa or any of the surrounding Oklahoma counties, it’s time to reach out to a team that knows how to handle these types of cases. That’s why you need a Tulsa Misdemeanor Defense Lawyer who can provide knowledgeable assistance in your case.
Simply call our team at the Tulsa Criminal Defense Law Firm at (918) 256-3400 for a no-hassle, confidential consultation. If you prefer the Tulsa Misdemeanor Defense Lawyer to call you or reach you by email, click here to ask your questions via the free online consultation request form.