Dallas-Fort Worth Felony & Misdemeanor Lawyer

When a defendant is charged with a crime, that charge will be either a misdemeanor or felony. The misdemeanor charge is the “less serious” one, but even misdemeanors can result in jail time. And all convictions will follow the defendant around, even after they have fulfilled their sentence, perhaps hindering the pursuit of employment and housing. That’s why securing legal representation that is both savvy and tough should be the top priority upon arrest. 

At T. Baker Law, our Dallas-Fort Worth felony and misdemeanor lawyer has over 14 years of experience offering clients sensible legal strategies combined with passionate representation. We serve people throughout the Metroplex area. 

Call today at (214) 777-5346 or contact us online to set up a consultation. Payment plans are available.

Misdemeanor Charges in Texas

Misdemeanors are classified on three different levels, depending on the seriousness of the crime. 

In escalating order of gravity, they are as follows:

• Class C Misdemeanor: An example of a Class C charge might be public intoxication or an underage driver getting a DWI. There is no jail time for these convictions, and fines will be $500 or less. 
• Class B misdemeanor: Now jail is on the table, perhaps as long as six months. One of the many examples of Class B offenses is the failure to pay court-ordered child support. 
• Class A misdemeanor: Defendants convicted on Class A charges can go to jail for up to a year. One example of a Class A violation is a theft crime, where the value of what is stolen is at least $750, but not more than $2,500. 

Felony Charges in Texas

The state of Texas is unique in that it has what’s called a state jail felony charge. This can be used for crimes such as identity theft, including check forgery and credit card fraud. State jail felonies have a minimum jail sentence of six months, and can be for as long as two years. 

Then, like misdemeanors, there are three classifications of felonies. Again, in escalating order of importance, they are:

• Third-degree felony: Crimes ranging from possession of drugs to child abandonment can result in a 3rd-degree felony charge. Conviction means anywhere from 2 to 10 years behind bars. 
• Second-degree felony: Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon is a 2nd degree felony in the state of Texas. The minimum sentence is 2 years in jail, but the maximum prison term is extended out to 20 years .
• First-degree felony: A defendant convicted on 1st degree charges will face at least 5 years in prison, and perhaps 99 years (effectively, a lifetime sentence) in jail. Examples of crimes that bring this down are rape and attempted murder. 

Furthermore, Texas is one of 24 states that allow for the death penalty. That means the creation of an even higher level criminal charge—that of capital felony. The murder of a police officer is a capital felony. The same goes for murder, particularly when murder is combined with some other felony crime, such as rape.