Your Options With Essential Bail Bonds
Misdemeanors
- If charged with a misdemeanor the defendant is required to reply to the written charges with a plea of either guilty, not guilty or nolo contendere (no contest). The judge will set the defendant's tentative appearance schedule. Bail is established according to the county's bail schedule. The defendant has a right to argue for a bail reduction. If the defendant pleads guilty at the arraignment, the judge may sentence him or her at that time.
- If the defendant does not plead guilty at the arraignment, a pre-trial conference will probably be scheduled at which time plea negotiations are discussed along with witnesses and strengths/weaknesses of the case.
- The next step is the trial (by judge or jury) at which pretrial motions and issues of fact are decided.
- If the defendant is found guilty the court will then impose a sentence on the defendant that could range form a fine, community service, counseling, jail time, a diversion program, substance abuse treatment, or a combination of these.