WHAT EACH CHARGE CARRIES
15 charges people actually meet, each with the section it comes from, what it requires the state to show, and the most it can carry. Missouri sorts an offense into an infraction, a class A to D misdemeanor, or a class A to E felony, and the code fixes each class's longest term and largest fine, so each level here names its class and that range.
15 charges
Stealing
D MISD to C FELONY · up to Three to ten years
Also searched as theft, shoplifting, larceny, took something
Appropriating someone else's property or services to deprive them of it, without consent or by deceit or coercion, or receiving or keeping property knowing or believing it was stolen.
| Class | Up to | When |
|---|---|---|
| D MISDClass D misdemeanor | No jail$500 fine | WhenWorth less than $150, not a listed kind of property, with no prior stealing offense |
| A MISDClass A misdemeanor | Up to one year$2,000 fine | WhenAnything the section does not grade otherwise |
| E FELONYClass E felony | Up to four years$10,000 fine | WhenAfter three prior stealing offenses on three separate occasions, or an animal or a catalytic converter, among others |
| D FELONYClass D felony | Up to seven years$10,000 fine | WhenWorth $750 or more, taken from the person, or a vehicle, firearm, or credit or debit device, among other listed items |
| C FELONYClass C felony | Three to ten years$10,000 fine | WhenWorth $25,000 or more |
Property taken in one scheme or course of conduct may be added together to set the class.
Assault in the third and fourth degree
C MISD to D FELONY · up to Up to seven years
Also searched as assault, hit someone, fight, offensive contact
Knowingly causing physical injury is the third degree. Attempting to cause or recklessly causing injury, pain or illness, placing someone in apprehension of immediate injury, or knowingly causing offensive contact is the fourth.
| Class | Up to | When |
|---|---|---|
| C MISDClass C misdemeanor | Up to fifteen days$750 fine | WhenFourth degree, by apprehension of injury or offensive contact, unless the victim is a special victim |
| A MISDClass A misdemeanor | Up to one year$2,000 fine | WhenFourth degree, any other way |
| E FELONYClass E felony | Up to four years$10,000 fine | WhenThird degree: knowingly causing physical injury |
| D FELONYClass D felony | Up to seven years$10,000 fine | WhenThird degree, against a special victim as the law defines it |
Harassment
A MISD to E FELONY · up to Up to four years
Also searched as harassing, harassing texts, emotional distress
Without good cause, doing any act with the purpose of causing another person emotional distress.
| Class | Up to | When |
|---|---|---|
| A MISDClass A misdemeanor | Up to one year$2,000 fine | WhenSecond degree, with no prior finding of guilt for it |
| E FELONYClass E felony | Up to four years$10,000 fine | WhenFirst degree: the act does cause emotional distress, or the second degree after a prior finding of guilt |
Neither section applies to law enforcement officers conducting investigations.
Stalking in the first degree
E FELONY to D FELONY · up to Up to seven years
Also searched as stalking, following someone, course of conduct
Purposely following or disturbing someone through a course of conduct, together with a threat meant to make them fear for their safety or their family's, or while violating an order of protection or a condition of release.
| Class | Up to | When |
|---|---|---|
| E FELONYClass E felony | Up to four years$10,000 fine | WhenThe ordinary case |
| D FELONYClass D felony | Up to seven years$10,000 fine | WhenAfter a prior finding of guilt for stalking, among the other cases the section lists |
Trespass
INFRACTION to B MISD · up to Up to six months
Also searched as trespassing, refused to leave, posted land
Entering another's real property unlawfully, or knowingly entering or remaining unlawfully in a building or on fenced, enclosed or posted land.
| Class | Up to | When |
|---|---|---|
| INFRACTIONInfraction | No jail$400 fine | WhenSecond degree: entering another's real property unlawfully, an offense of absolute liability |
| B MISDClass B misdemeanor | Up to six months$1,000 fine | WhenFirst degree: knowingly, in a building or on land fenced, enclosed or posted against trespass |
Peace disturbance
B MISD to A MISD · up to Up to one year
Also searched as disturbing the peace, loud noise, disorderly conduct, blocking traffic
Unreasonably and knowingly disturbing or alarming others by loud noise, fighting or a believable threat, offensive language face to face likely to provoke violence, or purposely and unreasonably blocking traffic or a way in or out.
| Class | Up to | When |
|---|---|---|
| B MISDClass B misdemeanor | Up to six months$1,000 fine | WhenA first conviction |
| A MISDClass A misdemeanor | Up to one year$2,000 fine | WhenA second or later conviction |
A third or later conviction also carries a fine of no less than one thousand dollars and no more than five thousand dollars.
Resisting or interfering with arrest
E FELONY · up to Up to four years
Also searched as resisting, fleeing, ran from police, did not pull over
Knowing, or reasonably should know, an officer is making an arrest, stop or detention, and to prevent it using or threatening violence or physical force, or fleeing. Doing the same to stop someone else's arrest is interfering.
| Class | Up to | When |
|---|---|---|
| E FELONYClass E felony | Up to four years$10,000 fine | WhenResisting an arrest for a felony, or on a warrant in a felony case for failure to appear or a probation violation |
Someone who keeps driving after clearly visible emergency lights or an audible signal is presumed to be fleeing. It is no defense that the officer was acting unlawfully in making the arrest.
Making a false report
B MISD · up to Up to six months
Also searched as false report, lying to police, false alarm
Knowingly giving false information to implicate another person in an offense, falsely reporting to police that an offense happened or is about to, or falsely reporting a fire or other emergency.
| Class | Up to | When |
|---|---|---|
| B MISDClass B misdemeanor | Up to six months$1,000 fine | WhenThe ordinary case |
It is a defense that the person retracted the report before anyone took substantial action relying on it.
Leaving the scene of an accident
A MISD to D FELONY · up to Up to seven years
Also searched as hit and run, drove off after a crash, leaving the scene
Knowing of an accident causing injury, death or damage to someone else's property, leaving without stopping and giving a name, residence, registration and license number to the other party or an officer.
| Class | Up to | When |
|---|---|---|
| A MISDClass A misdemeanor | Up to one year$2,000 fine | WhenIn general |
| E FELONYClass E felony | Up to four years$10,000 fine | WhenPhysical injury, property damage over $1,000, or a prior finding of guilt |
| D FELONYClass D felony | Up to seven years$10,000 fine | WhenA death resulted |
Careless and imprudent driving
B MISD to A MISD · up to Up to one year
Also searched as careless driving, reckless driving, stunt driving
Failing to drive in a careful and prudent manner, at a speed that does not endanger property, life or limb, with the highest degree of care, or stunt driving.
| Class | Up to | When |
|---|---|---|
| B MISDClass B misdemeanor | Up to six months$1,000 fine | WhenNo accident |
| A MISDClass A misdemeanor | Up to one year$2,000 fine | WhenAn accident is involved |
Driving while revoked
D MISD to A MISD · up to Up to one year
Also searched as driving on a suspended license, DWR, suspended license
Driving on a highway while the license or privilege is cancelled, suspended or revoked, acting with criminal negligence about knowing it.
| Class | Up to | When |
|---|---|---|
| D MISDClass D misdemeanor | No jail$500 fine | WhenA first violation |
| A MISDClass A misdemeanor | Up to one year$2,000 fine | WhenA second or third violation |
Later violations can be felonies.
Unlawful use of weapons
B MISD to E FELONY · up to Up to four years
Also searched as gun charge, brandishing, exhibiting a weapon, carrying in a restricted place
Knowingly doing one of the acts the section lists, among them exhibiting a weapon in an angry or threatening manner, or carrying a firearm into a restricted area, a place of worship, a polling place on election day, or a government building.
| Class | Up to | When |
|---|---|---|
| B MISDClass B misdemeanor | Up to six months$1,000 fine | WhenCarrying into a restricted area, a place of worship, a polling place or a government building, generally |
| E FELONYClass E felony | Up to four years$10,000 fine | WhenExhibiting a weapon capable of lethal use in an angry or threatening manner |
The restricted areas, places of worship, government buildings and schools do not apply to someone with a valid concealed carry permit, within the limits the section sets.
Possession of a controlled substance
D FELONY · up to Up to seven years
Also searched as drug possession, possession, pills without a prescription
Knowingly possessing a controlled substance, except as the drug chapters authorize.
| Class | Up to | When |
|---|---|---|
| D FELONYClass D felony | Up to seven years$10,000 fine | WhenAny controlled substance apart from the marijuana and synthetic cannabinoid amounts graded separately |
This card leaves the marijuana amounts out, as the page does, because adult possession is governed by Article XIV of the Missouri Constitution, which this guide does not cite.
Minor in possession
D MISD to A MISD · up to Up to one year
Also searched as underage drinking, MIP, fake ID to buy
Under twenty one, buying or trying to buy intoxicating liquor, possessing it, being visibly intoxicated, or having a blood alcohol content over two hundredths of one percent.
| Class | Up to | When |
|---|---|---|
| D MISDClass D misdemeanor | No jail$500 fine | WhenA first violation |
| A MISDClass A misdemeanor | Up to one year$2,000 fine | WhenA second or later violation |
Unlawful interception
E FELONY · up to Up to four years
Also searched as wiretapping, secret recording, recording a call
Knowingly intercepting a wire communication, using a radio device to intercept an oral communication, or knowingly disclosing or using the contents of a call known to be unlawfully intercepted.
| Class | Up to | When |
|---|---|---|
| E FELONYClass E felony | Up to four years$10,000 fine | WhenThe ordinary case |
It is not unlawful to intercept a call one is a party to, or one a party consented to, unless it is done to commit a criminal or tortious act.
Every class on this page, for reference
Each term comes from the code's table of terms and each fine from its table of fines. Where a person gained money or property, the fine can instead be up to double the gain.
- INFRACTIONInfractionNo jail$400
- D MISDClass D misdemeanorNo jail$500
- C MISDClass C misdemeanorUp to fifteen days$750
- B MISDClass B misdemeanorUp to six months$1,000
- A MISDClass A misdemeanorUp to one year$2,000
- E FELONYClass E felonyUp to four years$10,000
- D FELONYClass D felonyUp to seven years$10,000
- C FELONYClass C felonyThree to ten years$10,000
Words on a charging document
Terms with a legal meaning that is narrower than the everyday one. Each links to the definition and the authority behind it.
20 words
- Class D misdemeanorThe lowest misdemeanor class, carrying a fine of up to five hundred dollars and no term of imprisonment in the table.
- Driving while revokedOperating a motor vehicle on a highway when the license is cancelled, suspended or revoked, acting with criminal negligence about knowing it. A first violation is a class D misdemeanor.
- ExpungementSealing the records of an offense on petition, at least three years after completing the sentence for a felony, or one year for a misdemeanor.
- False reportKnowingly giving false information to implicate another person, or making a false report of an offense or an emergency. A class B misdemeanor.
- First callerA person who was the first to call for someone who appeared to need immediate medical help, gave their name, the address and the medical issue, and stayed and cooperated until help arrived. That person is not guilty of hazing.
- Fourth degree assaultAttempting to cause, or recklessly causing, physical injury, pain or illness, among the acts the section lists. A class A misdemeanor.
- HarassmentWithout good cause, doing an act with the purpose of causing another person emotional distress. In the second degree, a class A misdemeanor for a first offense.
- HazingKnowingly and actively participating in, soliciting, causing or planning a willful act, on or off campus, against a student or a prospective, current or former member of a college organization, that recklessly endangers their mental or physical health or safety for initiation, admission or continued membership.
- Highest degree of careThe care every driver has to exercise, driving in a careful and prudent manner at a speed that does not endanger anyone. A violation is a class B misdemeanor.
- InfractionAn offense carrying a fine of up to four hundred dollars.
- Leaving the sceneLeaving an accident causing injury, death or damage to someone else's property without giving name, residence, registration and license number to the other party or an officer. A class A misdemeanor in general.
- Minor in possessionA person under twenty one who buys or has intoxicating liquor, is visibly intoxicated, or has a blood alcohol content over two hundredths of one percent. A class D misdemeanor for a first violation.
- No duty to retreatThere is no duty to retreat from a dwelling, residence or vehicle the person is lawfully in, from the person's own private property, or from any other place the person has a right to be.
- Peace disturbanceMissouri's disorderly conduct: unreasonably and knowingly disturbing others by loud noise, fighting or a believable threat, offensive language face to face likely to provoke violence, or blocking traffic. A class B misdemeanor for a first conviction.
- ResistingUsing or threatening violence or physical force, or fleeing, to prevent an arrest, stop or detention one knows or reasonably should know is happening.
- StalkingPurposely following or disturbing someone through a course of conduct with no legitimate purpose, with a threat or while violating an order of protection. In the first degree, a class E felony.
- StealingMissouri's word for theft: appropriating someone else's property or services to deprive them of it, without consent or by deceit or coercion.
- TollingA pause in a limitation period. The criminal period does not run while the accused is absent from the state, or while the accused is concealed from justice anywhere.
- TrespassKnowingly entering or remaining unlawfully in a building or on land fenced or posted against intruders: trespass in the first degree, a class B misdemeanor.
- Unlawful use of weaponsA list of acts with a weapon that are unlawful when done knowingly, among them exhibiting a weapon in an angry or threatening manner, a class E felony.
About this guide — maximums, not predictions. What a specific case carries turns on priors, the facts, and the court, and only a licensed Missouri attorney can tell you what yours is. Current as of October 2026.