Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!ogicse!hsdndev!cmcl2!panix!eck
From: eck@panix.uucp (Mark Eckenwiler)
Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk
Subject: Re: Len Rose sentenced to Prison Term
Message-ID: <1991Jun20.193109.1756@panix.uucp>
Date: 20 Jun 91 19:31:09 GMT
References: <9106191748.AA23201@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>
Organization: Dudley & Stephens, Maritime Caterers
Lines: 24

In <9106191748.AA23201@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>, mlc%gva.decnet@CONSRT.ROCKWELL.COM stated:
>
>The difference of a day is the difference between a misdemeanor
>and a felony.  A misdemeanor carries a sentence of a year or
>less.  A felony carries a sentence of more (at least by a day)
>than a year.  A felony also can carry loss of some rights or
>forfeiture of things, as has been pointed out by other posters.

Close, but not quite. A felony is simply any offense *potentially*
punishable by more than a year in prison.  You can be convicted of a
felony (and subjected to the attendant civil disabilities) without
receiving a 1+ year sentence.

Recall, for example, that Oliver North was convicted of multiple
felonies yet received no jail sentence.  (Yes, the convictions have
been reversed, but that's beside the point.  And yes, his was a
pre-Guidelines offense, but it's still possible to get less than a
year for a federal felony under the Guidelines.)

-- 
	     Live by the lawn dart, die by the lawn dart.
					- Richard Sexton

	   Mark Eckenwiler    eck@panix.com    ...!cmcl2!panix!eck