A criminal misdemeanor offense is one that can be punished with imprisonment in the county jail for no more than one year. A misdemeanor charge is less severe than a felony charge, however, a misdemeanor can still be punished with jail time. A misdemeanor is any offense that can be charged with a fine or imprisonment in the county jail for no more than one year.
Pursuant to Penal Code Section 977, certain misdemeanor cases can be handled by an attorney without the client’s presence in court; so long as the client provides the lawyer with authority to do so.
Criminal misdemeanor cases such as driving while under the influence, petty theft, and drunk in public permit an attorney to represent a client in court without the client’s presence. Other crimes DO require the client to appear in court, such as domestic violence cases.
Contact the Law Offices of Christian M. Ham today to discuss your legal options. Contact us online or call 619-236-1983.