When you have been charged with a misdemeanor, you can do one of three things — you can get a lawyer to fight on your behalf, go with a public defender, or represent yourself. What would be the best option for you, and is it worth getting a lawyer for a misdemeanor offense?
This can be a tricky topic to tackle. Many find themselves weighing their options in this case. Going with a public defender might save you upfront legal fees, but will you be getting the best defense? You may feel confident in representing yourself, but are you ready to stand up to the legal scrutiny of the state?
Public defenders are often busy juggling multiple cases and have very little time to spend with their clients. Private attorneys are able to make you their sole priority and focus on you and your case. In this article, we’ll share with you some of the particulars of misdemeanor offenses and why going with a private attorney is often the best option for those facing a misdemeanor charge.
Misdemeanor Convictions are Punishable by Serious Penalties
Many people believe a misdemeanor conviction is not that serious— that you will receive a small fine and possibly a few months to a year in jail. However, that is not the case in many misdemeanor cases in Maryland.
To better give you an idea of what you can face for certain misdemeanor crimes in Maryland, we’ve provided you with a few common examples that we see regularly:
- Second-Degree Assault: Up to $2,500 fine or/and up to 10 years in prison
- Child Neglect: Up to $5,000 fine or/and up to 5 years in prison
- Cyberbullying: Up to $10,000 fine or/and up to 3 years in prison
- Purposely exposing others to an infectious disease: Up to $500 fine or/and up to 1 year in jail
- Theft between $100 to $1,500: Up to $500 fine or/and up to 6 months in prison
- Disorderly Conduct: up to $500 fine or/and up to 60 days in jail
You Do Not Have to Plead Guilty
You are innocent until proven guilty. You always have the chance to challenge the state’s case against you. However, if you choose to plead guilty without having a criminal lawyer represent you, you will have no defense to help you with your conviction. An experienced criminal defense attorney will advise you to not incriminate yourself and to work with them to build a case in your defense. You stand a significantly better chance of a more favorable outcome if you work with an attorney and do not plead guilty.
Public defenders Can Only Do So Much
Getting a public defender is far better than representing yourself in most cases, but unfortunately, public defenders are typically overworked and lack experience in some areas of criminal law that may be pertinent to a particular case.
Many public defenders have too many cases on their books, and they are often underfunded, which means they may not be able to obtain the additional resources that can help you build a solid defense strategy for your case.
However, by getting yourself a private criminal lawyer, you’ll get the one-on-one attention to your case that you deserve, and you’ll get the experience and resources you need to have a fighting chance at winning a more favorable outcome for your case.
Experience Like No Other
By using an experienced criminal defense law firm, you know you are in good hands. Your criminal lawyer should be well versed in the practices, procedures, prosecutors, and judges in your jurisdiction.
Avoid a Criminal Record
A criminal record can make or break you. Having a criminal record in Maryland limits your options and opportunities, and can make for more trouble down the line. A criminal record can make it hard to get that dream job, secure a place to live, gain admission into your college of choice, and it can even affect your personal life.
Your experienced criminal lawyer will do everything they can to help ensure that you do not get convicted, because they know how damaging it can be, and because your success is their success.
No Case is Too Big or Too Small for Jeremy Widdler Law
Experience, kindness and great judgment are essential to help you get the outcome you deserve. At Jeremy Widder Law, we have experience in a wide range of legal practice areas, and leading with compassion, we deliver top-notch legal services backed by years of experience.
We are committed to walking with you from start to finish and giving your unique case the attention it deserves.
We’re ready to help. Let’s talk about your case.
