A misdemeanor is still a criminal charge, and it still leaves a record. “Minor” is misleading. A conviction can cost you a job or an apartment years later, and some misdemeanors carry up to six months in jail. Before you plead guilty just to make it go away, let us look at whether we can keep it off your record.
Most misdemeanor charges in Lafayette are heard in Lafayette City Court, which handles the large majority of non-felony offenses inside the city. It is easy to treat a misdemeanor as no big deal, pay it or plead and move on, but that plea becomes a criminal record that follows you. The Law Office of Heather C. Ford defends misdemeanor cases across Lafayette and works to keep them from turning into a permanent mark.
Under Louisiana law, a misdemeanor is any crime that is not punishable by imprisonment at hard labor. In plain terms, it means county-style parish jail rather than state prison, and most misdemeanors carry a maximum of six months. The table below shows common Lafayette misdemeanors and their general penalties, as current law, not a prediction about your case.
| Misdemeanor | General maximum penalty | Where heard |
| Simple assault | Up to 90 days and a fine up to $200. | Lafayette City Court |
| Disturbing the peace | Up to 90 days and a fine up to $100. | Lafayette City Court |
| Domestic abuse battery (first offense) | 30 days to 6 months and a $300 to $1,000 fine. | Lafayette City Court |
| Theft under $1,000 | Up to 6 months and a fine up to $1,000. | Lafayette City Court |
| Misdemeanor drug possession / paraphernalia | Up to 6 months (small-amount marijuana can be a $100 summons). | Lafayette City Court |
| DWI, first or second offense | See our DWI page for the full penalty schedule. | Lafayette City Court |
See our dedicated pages on DWI, drug possession, simple battery, disturbing the peace, public intoxication, and criminal trespass.
This is the trap people miss. Many Louisiana misdemeanors escalate to felonies on a repeat conviction or when committed against a protected victim, such as a police officer, a teacher, or a minor. A second or third offense can move your case out of Lafayette City Court and into the 15th Judicial District Court, where the stakes are prison, not parish jail. That is exactly why fighting the first misdemeanor matters more than it seems.
Paying or pleading feels like the fast way out, but a misdemeanor conviction is a criminal record. It shows up on background checks and can cost you a job, an apartment, a professional license, or a security clearance long after the fine is paid. A conviction also becomes a prior that can enhance any future charge. Weighed against that, keeping the charge off your record in the first place is almost always the better trade.
A charge is not a conviction. We examine whether the stop, the search, and the arrest were lawful and whether the state can actually prove its case. Depending on the facts, we work toward a dismissal, a reduction, or a resolution that keeps a conviction off your record. Where a first offense qualifies, an Article 894 deferral can let you avoid a conviction entirely, and if you already have an old misdemeanor on your record, we can look at expungement. For most misdemeanor cases, we can appear at City Court for you.
Keep it off your record so a misdemeanor does not haunt your background checks.
Avoid the felony trap by fighting the first charge before a repeat makes it worse.
Save your time because for most cases we appear at City Court for you.
Before you plead to anything, find out what your options really are. Call or text the Law Office of Heather C. Ford for a free, confidential consultation. Learn more about our Lafayette criminal defense and the courts we serve.
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Avoid Anxiety:Keep a Minor Charge Off Your Permanent Record.
Between myself and my family, we keep Heather busy! She is very professional and knowledgeable. I have spent a lot of money and ruined my driving record paying off speeding tickets but when I found Heather, I found that she is the best
My experience with the Law Office of Heather C. Ford was outstanding. I would recommend this team to anyone that has received a traffic ticket in the metro New Orleans area....
I found Heather online after searching for a traffic lawyer. Since I am not from the area, I was not 100% sure but went with my gut after reading the positive comments. And I was right! I am really pleased with Heather Ford's...
I was thrilled when Heather was able to get my ticket reduced to a non-moving violation and the judge waived fees. I never thought that was possible. I was certain I'd have to pay something. She's great...
Ms. Ford is all that I could ask for in an advocate.
My experience has been as pleasurable as can be expected when you need a lawyer.
Yes. A misdemeanor is a criminal charge, and a conviction becomes a permanent record that can affect jobs, housing, and licenses. Some misdemeanors also carry up to six months in jail. Treating it as minor is how people end up with a record they regret.
Almost always in Lafayette City Court, which handles most non-felony charges inside the city. If the charge is elevated by a prior conviction or a protected victim, it can move to the 15th Judicial District Court.
Often, yes. Through a dismissal, a reduction, or an Article 894 deferral for a qualifying first offense, we can frequently keep a conviction from attaching. If you already have one, expungement may be an option later.
For most misdemeanor cases, no. When you hire us, we can usually appear at City Court on your behalf.
A conviction generally will, until and unless it is expunged. That is why it is worth trying to avoid the conviction in the first place.
We quote a flat fee up front during a free, confidential consultation, so you know the cost before you decide.
