What is the difference between a misdemeanor and felony offense?
The difference between the two offenses is that a misdemeanor is a crime where a person may only be sentenced up to 1 year in jail. It is a lesser criminal offense, but will still require the skill of a qualified criminal defense lawyer. A felony however, is a serious criminal offense that would require 1 year or more in jail/prison. There are a few crimes considered “wobblers” under Florida Law that may be charged as either a felony or misdemeanor offense depending on the circumstances of the crime and any past convictions. In addition, crimes resulting in a small fine, such as some small traffic offenses, do not fall into either category but are considered infractions of the law instead.