lesser charge
Downgraded criminal count
A lesser charge is a criminal accusation that carries lighter penalties than a more serious one for similar conduct.
Prosecutors may offer a lesser charge through plea bargaining, or juries may convict on a lesser charge when the evidence doesn't support the original accusation: He was indicted for murder but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
The term appears almost exclusively in legal contexts.
- misdemeanorLesser criminal charge
- plea dealNegotiated criminal case resolution
- plea bargainNegotiated criminal case resolution
- cop a pleaAccept reduced charges
- reducedMade less in amount
reduced sentence · downgrade · felony · bargain · negotiate · district attorney · sentencing · time served · prosecutor · criminal defense · defendant · guilty plea · infraction · violation · petty · minor offense · first offense · court
- legal defensesself-defense, alibi, affirmative defense, insanity defense, insanity
- clemencypardon, amnesty, clemency, reprieve, commutation