misdemeanor charge
Lesser criminal allegation
A misdemeanor charge is a formal accusation of a crime less serious than a felony but more serious than an infraction.
Misdemeanors typically carry penalties of fines or jail time under one year: He was arrested on misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct.
Common examples include petty theft, simple assault, and minor drug possession.
The charge itself is the accusation—distinct from conviction, which comes after a guilty verdict or plea.
- petty theftMinor stealing offense
- violationBreaking of rules
- citationMention of a source
- court dateScheduled judicial appearance
- arraignmentCharge-reading court session
plea bargain · not guilty · fine · probation · public defender · criminal defense · criminal record · disorderly conduct · trespassing · vandalism · shoplifting · minor offense · diversion program · bail · summons · court appearance · prosecution · defendant
- criminal trialarraignment, defense attorney, courtroom, criminal trial, prosecutor
- criminal chargesarson, burglary, homicide, kidnapping, robbery
- prosecutionprosecutor, district attorney, DA, prosecution, public prosecutors
- traffic penaltiesticket, speeding ticket, traffic fine, parking ticket, citations
misdemeanor chargefelony charge
Accusation of serious crime
felony · capital offense · capital crime · federal indictment · high crime
misdemeanor chargeacquittal
Formal clearing of charges
exoneration · charges dropped · case dismissed · not guilty verdict · clean record
misdemeanor, misdemeanors, charge, charges, charged, charging, charger, chargers, chargeable