MN criminal defense lawyer, Ryan Garry, discusses the various levels of criminal offenses. He explains that a petty misdemeanor is classified as a non-criminal offense. Examples include a parking ticket or possession of up to 42 grams of marijuana in one’s home—an act that many people do not realize is not considered illegal in Minnesota. By contrast, a misdemeanor is a criminal offense punishable by up to 90 days in jail and may include charges such as speeding, a first-time DWI, or misdemeanor assault. Gross misdemeanors carry potential penalties ranging from 90 days to one year in jail, while felonies are the most serious offenses, with sentences that can extend from more than one year to life imprisonment.