Misdemeanor Defense Lawyer
Misdemeanor criminal defense lawyer Spiros Nicolet has more than 30 years of experience providing legal representation to individuals throughout Milwaukee County, Cook County, and the surrounding areas. A misdemeanor criminal defense lawyer who won’t back down, Spiros will protect your rights and negotiate with prosecutors to help get your criminal charges reduced or eliminated altogether.
Call our Chicago criminal defense law firm at
(312) 877-6886 for a FREE consultation.
Why Hire Milwaukee Criminal Defense Lawyer Spiros Nicolet?
If you are facing misdemeanor charges in Wisconsin or Illinois, it’s important to choose the right criminal defense attorney to protect your rights and defend your freedom. While a criminal conviction for a misdemeanor charge is typically not going to have as severe of consequences that accompany a felony charge, criminal convictions for misdemeanors can still result in substantial jail time and significant fines. Criminal Defense Attorney Spiros Nicolet Will Protect Your Rights, Your Freedom, and Your Future.
for a free consultation.
What Are the Penalties for a Misdemeanor Conviction?
Like with felony charges , misdemeanor charges are categorized in multiple levels depending on the type and severity of the crime. As such, the penalties for a misdemeanor conviction range from fairly minor to severe. If you plead guilty, or your misdemeanor case goes to trial and a guilty verdict is returned, you could be ordered to pay restitution and fines, and you could face a lengthy jail sentence.
Unfortunately, criminal penalties are not the only repercussions you will face if you are convicted. Other consequences that may impact your life include, but are not limited to:
- The Loss of Your Driving Privileges
- Probation
- Community Service
- Ineligibility for Some Academic Programs
- Permanent Criminal Record
- The Loss of Your Professional License
- Court-Ordered Rehab
- The Inability to Work in Certain Jobs or Industries
- The Possible Loss of Your Right to Use, Possess, or Own a Firearm
- Denied Home Rental Applications
Unless your criminal defense lawyer is able to get your conviction expunged to prevent it from showing up on your background check, you will have a mark on your criminal record for the rest of your life.
What Crimes Qualify as Misdemeanors in Wisconsin and Illinois?
Various types of crimes may qualify as misdemeanors in Wisconsin and Illinois. Misdemeanors are not generally as serious as felony crimes. Sometimes they become felonies if certain factors exist. If there are prior convictions for the same type of misdemeanor crime, for example, the defendant’s criminal charge may evolve into a felony charge. Examples of misdemeanor criminal offense cases include:
- Theft of property that is worth less than $2,500
- Domestic violence, battery, or assault under certain circumstances
- Vandalism and criminal damage to property
- Some types of drug crimes
- Drunk driving, or OWI charges under certain circumstances
Strategies Milwaukee Criminal Defense Lawyers Use to Defend Misdemeanor Charges
In the criminal justice system, state prosecutors have the burden of proving to the judge or jury beyond a reasonable doubt that you committed the crime with which you are charged. As such, your Milwaukee criminal defense lawyer will look for weaknesses in the State’s case, and use those weaknesses to cast doubt in the minds of jurors. Your defense strategy might include:
Your Alibi
Illinois and Wisconsin criminal defense attorneys may introduce your alibi as a defense to show that you were in another place when the crime was committed, so you cannot be guilty of committing the crime. Eyewitness statements, videos, surveillance cameras, credit card receipts, and even your cellphone location may help your lawyer establish your innocence.
Self Defense
In criminal cases that involve accusations of violent crimes, your attorney might prove to the jury that you believed you were in imminent danger, and that you acted in self-defense to protect yourself. If this defense is successful, your criminal charges may be reduced or dropped altogether.
Constitutional Rights Violations
If the police officers did not have probable cause to arrest you, an illegal search and seizure was conducted, law enforcement officers continued to question you after you requested a lawyer, they coerced you into confessing to the crime, or you were not informed of your Miranda rights, for example, the evidence against you may not be admissible in court, your arrest may not have been lawful, and your charges could be reduced or eliminated.
Consent
In some cases involving sexual assault charges, the consent defense may be used to get you off the hook. Your criminal attorney will need to convince the jury that the alleged victim willingly agreed to the sexual acts. Evidence like videos, text messages, and eyewitness statements may be used in your defense.
Improper Police Procedures
It is also common for procedural mistakes to be used to help individuals avoid a conviction. Improper police procedures during the investigation, including mistakes in the way evidence was gathered, handled, and processed, not following correct procedures when administering tests or interpreting test results, or tampering with evidence, may be enough to get your charges dropped.
Can Criminal Defense Attorneys Help Even If You Committed the Crime?
Your guilt or innocence is irrelevant to your criminal case. Your lawyer’s job is to protect your rights and defend you against the charges you’re facing, not to decide whether you’re guilty or innocent. In the criminal justice system, there is a difference between factual guilt and legal guilt. In court, your factual guilt is not in question, your legal guilt is. For you to be legally guilty of committing the crime, the prosecution must present enough evidence to convince the judge or jury beyond a reasonable doubt that you have committed the crime. Even if the evidence is stacked against you, however, criminal defense lawyers may be able to plea bargain to get your charges reduced and help you avoid severe penalties.
