B. A crime that is less serious than a felony.
Listen to pronunciationLegal Definition -
A crime that is less serious than a felony and is usually punishable by a fine, penalty, forfeiture, or confinement (usually for a brief term) in a place other than a prison (such as a county jail).
Black's Law Dictionary® Eighth Edition © 2004
Recent Usage -
Country singer Willie Nelson was cited for misdemeanor drug offenses after a traffic stop on Interstate 10 near Breaux Bridge in St. Martin Parish, La., on Monday morning. The Louisiana Highway Patrol said troopers smelled a strong odor of marijuana when the driver opened the door to Nelson's band bus. Trooper Willie Williams of the Louisiana Highway Patrol said a search of the bus turned up about 1.5 pounds of marijuana and about one-fifth of a pound of hallucinogenic mushrooms. Misdemeanor drug citations were issued for the 73-year-old Nelson, of Spicewood, Texas, as well as for Nelson's 75-year-old sister, Bobbie Nelson of Briarcliff, Texas; 59-year-old Tony Sizemore of St. Cloud, Fla.; 54-year-old Gates Moore of Austin and 50-year-old David Anderson of Dallas. All were released. Despite the citations, some fans wonder if Nelson is getting special treatment. "If they found a pound and a half in my car, I would be in jail. Wouldn't you?" said one fan. Police said it wasn't a felony since Nelson and the others admitted the drugs were for personal use and didn't plan to sell them.
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