Source: https://www.tndui.com/blog/may-a-misdemeanor-crime-be-elevated-to-a-felony-offense/
Timestamp: 2019-04-18 16:47:54+00:00

Document:
In addition to jail time, other penalties require consideration. For example, misdemeanor fines range from zero to $2,500.3 Class A felonies, on the other hand, may carry a maximum fine of up to $50,000.4 These fines do not include court costs and other related expenses. Occasionally, a fine is imposed instead of probation or imprisonment for misdemeanor offenses, but it may also be imposed in addition to other punishment.
As noted above, it is also important to recognize that prosecutors have the authority to amend the original charge to a more serious crime within certain time limitations (and often to a less serious crime after a defense attorney convinces the prosecutor of the weaknesses in the State’s case). However, any type of criminal conviction will likely adversely impact a person’s ability to obtain employment, housing, and/or credit rating.
Thus, if you are facing felony and/or misdemeanor criminal charges of any kind, you will need experienced legal representation. Contact the Knoxville criminal defense lawyers from Oberman & Rice for assistance. At Oberman & Rice, we believe “Your Future is Our Present Concern®.” We are committed to representing our clients with unparalleled attention and communication – 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
Call Oberman & Rice at (865) 249-7200 or fill out our online contact form to speak with our Knoxville criminal defense attorneys.
The author, Steve Oberman, would also like to recognize and thank Matt Wayne, a second year law student at the University of Tennessee College of Law, for his contributions in researching and editing this article.
1 Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-111(e)(1).
2 Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-111(b)(5).
3 Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-111(e)(1).
4 Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-111(b)(1).
5 Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-14-105(a)(1)-(6).
6 Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-14-105(a)(1)-(2).
7 Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-13-103(b)(1)-(2) (stating that reckless endangerment is a Class A misdemeanor; however, “[r]eckless endangerment committed with a deadly weapon is a Class E felony(.)”). Id.
8 See Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-103 (comments citing State v. Ramsey, 903 S.W.2d 709 (Tenn. Crim. App.1995) in which the court considered the “[d]efendant’s history of misdemeanor convictions” to justify imposing the maximum sentencing penalty under Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-103(b)). Id.
9 See generally Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-103 .
10 Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-103(b)(2) .

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