Fairfax Criminal Lawyer
Let us fight your criminal charge in Virginia courts. As a Fairfax criminal lawyer, I’ve defended clients in the Virginia courts and fought for their legal rights. Call me to discuss your criminal violations.
read below criminal penalties misdemeanors and felonies:
What are Criminal Misdemeanors and Felonies?
Any kind of criminal offense leads to the accused being charged with either a Felony crime or Misdemeanor crime, depending upon the seriousness of the crime.
Both these classifications help determine the level of severity and what penalties the accused may face.
It is encouraged to consult with a Fairfax Criminal Lawyer in the event you are convicted of any criminal offense.
As mentioned above, crimes are often put into two separate categories: Misdemeanor crimes and Felony crimes.
Before heading into the different kinds of criminal offenses and which category they fall under, it is important to understand the difference between being charged with a misdemeanor or a felony crime.
Misdemeanors are criminal offenses that are less severe crimes than felony offenses.
The latter has longer jail or prison sentences, harsh fines, and other lifelong consequences.
Moreover, certain felony offenses are also punishable by death.
In contrast, when convicted of a misdemeanor, you cannot serve more than one year in jail, and the fines, in this case, will typically not exceed $2,500.
However, these charges will remain a part of your criminal record if you are found guilty of a crime.
Types of Criminal Offenses in Fairfax County Virginia
Any kind of criminal activity is usually frowned upon in our society and can have long-term consequences in the future.
Although there are many types of crimes that can become serious criminal offenses, listed below is a brief overview of certain crimes our firm has years of expertise in handling.
Traffic Offenses
Thousands of tickets are issued almost every day for traffic offenses.
Some traffic offenses such as reckless driving or driving under influence (DUI) are serious criminal offenses that can result in serious life-changing consequences.
| Misdemeanor Class | Fines | Jail Time |
| Class 1 | Up to $2,500 | Up to 1 year |
| Class 2 | Up to $1,000 | Up to 6 months |
| Class 3 | Up to $500 | – |
| Class 4 | Up to $250 | – |
A traffic violation occurs when a traffic law is violated by a vehicle that is in motion.
Every state has its own laws regarding traffic violations so it’s important to know the law and what the penalties are in your state for moving offenses.
A misdemeanor traffic offense can result in up to 12 months in jail, a fine of $1,000, having your license suspended, and also result in demerit points.
On the other hand, a felony conviction almost always leads to a license suspension with no eligibility for a restricted license along with harsh fines and prison sentences.
Courts we attend: Fairfax County, Alexandria County, Arlington County, Prince William County, Loudoun County, Vienna, Herndon, City of Fairfax, Falls Church, Clarke County, Culpeper County, Fauquier County, Frederick County, Fredericksburg County, Rappahannock County, Spotsylvania County, Stafford County, Warren County, Winchester County, and The Federal court in Alexandria.
Assault and Battery Charges
Assault and Battery (Virginia Law Section 18.2-57) are penalized under the same statute in Virginia despite being two distinct crimes.
Assault is performing a physical act intended to cause physical harm while having the ability to inflict harm or place reasonable fear of offensive touching, harm, or danger.
Moreover, there are different degrees of Assault such as Simple Assault or Aggravated assault.
Battery, on the other hand, is an offense where there is harmful contact with another person.
It need not be serious, so long as it is offensive to the victim. Depending upon the state and seriousness of the crime, the punishments can start from 5 years to almost 25 years in prison including hefty fines.
Theft Criminal Violations
The term theft has a broad meaning that encompasses more than one category.
It’s a property crime that involves taking off a person’s property without their permission.
The Virginia Code lists some specific theft-related offenses that include but are not limited to Shoplifting, petit larceny, grand larceny, fraud, identity theft burglary, etc.
According to the Virginia side, any property is taken that is less than $1,000 is considered petit larceny.
Whereas, when the stolen property in question has a value that exceeds $1,000 then the offense will be considered to be grand larceny.
Depending on the circumstances of the case and what the value of the stolen property was, you can be convicted of either a felony or a misdemeanor.
In the event of a misdemeanor, the jail term is less than a year with fines that may go up to $2,500.
However, a felony offense may lead to lengthy prison sentences and expensive fines.
Domestic Abuse
Domestic violence can have a heavy impact on a person’s mental health as well as affect their everyday life.
Any sort of behavior that is used to maintain power or control over an intimate partner will be considered domestic abuse.
Under Virginia’s domestic abuse laws, it is a crime to injure or hurt any member of your family or household.
Any person committing such an act of violence against a family member will be guilty of domestic violence.
Moreover, domestic violence can include not just physical abuse but emotional abuse, sexual assault as well as neglect on the defendant’s part.
Such a conviction can have severe penalties that may include serving years in prison and be required to pay hefty fines exceeding $2,500 in some extreme felony cases.
Furthermore, in most domestic violence cases, it is typically common for the legal authorities to issue a protective court order that requires the accused to refrain from making any contact with the victim.
Why Should You Hire a Fairfax Criminal Lawyer?
Criminal laws are often complex and can be convoluted.
It’s encouraged to learn as much as possible about the charges you face by contacting an experienced Fairfax Criminal Lawyer.
If you are facing any charges mentioned above or any other criminal offense, contact the Fairfax Criminal Lawyer here at American Lawyers Group, they have years of experience handling thousands of cases and providing effective and efficient representation to their clients.