Des Moines Misdemeanor Lawyer

If you’ve been charged with a misdemeanor, an attorney can help improve your chances of successfully resolving these charges and explore your available legal options based on your specific charges. It’s important to discuss your misdemeanor charges with an experienced Des Moines misdemeanor lawyer right away.

At the Law Offices of Amanda T. Adams PLLC, we have experience providing solid representation, and we are ready to provide a lifetime of legal assistance for any of your legal needs. We believe in clear communication, and we’re responsive to client concerns. Contact our office to discuss your situation confidentially.

Des Moines, IA Criminal Charges

Iowa classifies its crimes in only two ways: a felony or a misdemeanor. If you were charged with a crime in Iowa, it’s important to know whether you’re facing felony or misdemeanor charges.

Felony charges are more serious charges. However, even misdemeanor charge convictions can significantly impact your life in the long term.

Des Moines Misdemeanors and Examples

In general, there are three different types of misdemeanor charges. In Iowa, these charges are classified as follows:

• Simple Misdemeanor. These are typically the least serious type of criminal charges in Iowa. Some simple misdemeanors might include a charge for violating an Iowa state code.
• Others may charge you with violating an ordinance in your specific city or county. Some examples of simple misdemeanors could include simple assault, third-degree harassment, or domestic abuse. Hypothetically, if you were eating at Angry Goldfish in Des Moines and took a swing at a bartender, you could be charged with assault as a simple misdemeanor.
• Serious Misdemeanor. These are more serious than simple misdemeanors. Serious misdemeanors include first DUI/OWI offenses, drug crimes, indecent exposure, and invasion of privacy. Iowa noted an increase in drug and alcohol use, and police are often patrolling to catch and charge residents with drug and alcohol-related crimes.
• Our highway infrastructure tends to facilitate the transportation of illicit drugs to Des Moines, and hypothetically, if you were stopped for a drug-related crime near I-235 near downtown Des Moines, you might face a serious misdemeanor charge.
• Aggravated Misdemeanor. This is the most serious class of Iowa’s misdemeanors. A second DUI may be an aggravated misdemeanor, but subsequent OWIs could be felonies. Here, the sentencing judge typically has sentencing discretion. Examples could include charges for domestic abuse, assault hate crimes, third-degree theft, stalking, animal torture, second drug possession charges, or second OWI charges.

Sometimes, Iowa’s criminal statutes specify punishments for misdemeanors, and these consequences can be particularly severe. A misdemeanor conviction can affect your employment opportunities, loan approval success, and firearm ownership. An attorney can discuss your specific situation and whether any defenses exist to help with your case.

Contact the Law Offices of Amanda T. Adams to Discuss Your Misdemeanor Charges

If you or a loved one faces a misdemeanor charge, we can protect your rights. At the Law Offices of Amanda T. Adams PLLC, we can investigate your case, build a solid defense case, and work diligently to improve your case outcome.

We have offices in Johnston, Iowa, and Crystal Lake, Illinois. Contact the Law Offices of Amanda T. Adams to schedule a confidential client consultation to discuss your Des Moines misdemeanor matter.