If you have been charged with a criminal misdemeanor, there is the chance that if you are convicted, you could be heavily fined, be subject to jail, have to attend classes, and end up with a criminal record for life.Given the seriousness of the charge against you, it would be best that if you retained a criminal defense attorney to represent you. Possibly you could be sentenced to court probation and if you satisfy the terms of the court probation, the charge could then be dismissed with nothing to show on your record.