While most people understand that a felony is worse than a misdemeanor, they don’t understand what defines the two. While the definitions vary from state to state, in California, a misdemeanor is a crime that carries a sentence no worse than one year in county jail. In some misdemeanor cases, you may even have the right to waive your appearance in court and have your attorney appear on your behalf. Common misdemeanor crimes include cases of DUI, petty theft, minor drug possession and most cases of domestic violence. Anyone accused of domestic violence will be required to go to court and should contact a Vista criminal lawyer.

Felonies are more serious crimes and if you are convicted, you may end up serving time in a state prison, although some convictions will result in probation time, which may be served in county jail. If you are accused of a felony, you must go to court in person. No matter what sentence you receive, having a felony conviction on your record can seriously jeopardize your future, preventing you from owning firearms and making you likely to face discrimination while seeking employment and looking for affordable rental housing.

While anyone accused of a crime should seek legal counsel, it is imperative that anyone charged with a felony contact a Vista felony lawyer as soon as possible. Please schedule a consultation with Peter M. Liss by calling (760) 643-4050.

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