You were charged with a misdemeanor and the paperwork says Class A, B, or C, so now you’re worried about jail, your record, and your job.
The class matters because it sets the ceiling on what a judge can do and shapes every offer the prosecutor makes.
Indiana misdemeanor levels top out at one year in jail for Class A, 180 days for Class B, and 60 days for Class C. Blankenship Law, LLC has defended these charges in Hamilton, Porter, and LaPorte County courts, and we can explain your options once you finish reading.
This guide covers the three classes, how charges move up or down, and why the class changes your plea options.
Key Takeaways
- The class changes the fine, the jail ceiling, and your leverage.
- A prior drug or OWI conviction can turn a misdemeanor into a Level 6 felony.
- A Level 6 felony can sometimes drop to a Class A misdemeanor.
- A 2025 law caps stacked consecutive jail time.
What Are the Indiana Misdemeanor Levels?
Indiana misdemeanor levels come in three classes, and Indiana Code 35-50-3 sets the ceiling for each.
- Class A: up to one year in jail and a $5,000 fine, covering OWI endangering a person and criminal vandalism (formerly criminal mischief) causing $750 to $49,999 in damage.
- Class B: up to 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine, where possession of marijuana and public intoxication sit.
- Class C: up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine, the level for minor possession of alcohol.
Those numbers are ceilings. A judge can suspend part of the time and order up to one year of probation instead, and MyCase shows the class on your charge while the Indiana Courts Self-Service Legal Center explains each hearing.
Misdemeanor vs Felony in Indiana: Where Does the Line Fall?
The line falls at one year. Anything carrying more than a year of possible incarceration is a felony, and since the 2014 code overhaul the lowest felony is Level 6, at 6 months to 2.5 years.
Charges can climb across it, since marijuana possession is a Class B misdemeanor until a prior drug conviction and 30 grams or more make it a Level 6 felony, and an OWI becomes one when a prior OWI conviction falls within seven years.
Charges can come down too. Under Indiana Code 35-50-2-7, alternative misdemeanor sentencing lets a court enter a Level 6 felony as a Class A misdemeanor, with exceptions like domestic battery.
Our Indiana felony levels guide covers the rungs above Level 6, and our Indiana criminal defense lawyers can tell you where yours sits.
If a Level 6 felony or a prior conviction shows up in your paperwork, Blankenship Law, LLC can look at whether the charge can come down.
Why Does the Misdemeanor Class Matter for Plea Options?
The class sets how much room a prosecutor has to bargain. A Class A charge gives the State a year of jail to trade down from, while Class C leaves little to give.
One LaPorte County client faced a Class A OWI endangering charge with a .10 breath test and no prior record, and pled to reckless driving with six months of probation and no OWI conviction. A Huntington County client’s Class B marijuana possession ended in a conditional discharge. Past results don’t guarantee a similar outcome.
Since July 2025, House Enrolled Act 1014 generally caps consecutive jail terms from one episode at 1 year for Class C, 2 for Class B, and 3 for Class A.
An Indiana misdemeanor attorney can push for a lower class before you sign a plea agreement, because that class stays on your criminal record.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a misdemeanor be expunged in Indiana?
Often, yes. Indiana law generally sets a five-year wait after conviction for a misdemeanor, and you can’t have new convictions or unpaid fines in that window. Once you hit that mark, you’ll file a petition in the court that handled the case.
How long can probation last for a misdemeanor in Indiana?
Generally up to one year. Indiana’s misdemeanor sentencing law caps the combined jail and probation term at one year in most cases, even for a Class A. If you’re offered probation, ask what fees, classes, or treatment come with it.
How long does the State have to file a misdemeanor charge in Indiana?
Two years from the date of the offense in most cases. That deadline comes from the state’s statute of limitations for misdemeanors, and it can pause in limited situations. If you think a charge is coming, don’t wait for the paperwork before you call a lawyer.
Blankenship Law, LLC: Your Criminal Defense Law Firm
Seeing a Class A, B, or C on your charging papers is stressful, and most people reading it want to know one thing, which is how bad it can get.
At Blankenship Law, LLC, we start by checking whether the charge was filed at the right level, because the level a prosecutor files at is where talks begin. Our two offices cover Hamilton, Porter, and LaPorte counties, and a call early in the case gives us room to work (before positions harden).
Contact our firm today for a free consultation and we’ll go through the charge, the class, and your options.
