Legal Question in Criminal Law in Virginia

Re: Indecent Exposure

Indecent exposure in the Commonwealth is a Class 1 misdemeanor offense for which you've correctly identified the maximum possible sentence. However, if you're a first time offender, you should be eligible for the disposition known as Suspended Imposition of Sentence(SIS) which allows you to enter a guilty plea before a judge

who then defers sentencing. If you complete all the conditions of your probation sucessfully within the prescribed time frame(usually one year)

the court may then determine that no sentence should ever be imposed and that the matter should be dismissed/closed. If that occurs, the very desirable consequence is that there is no record of any conviction for this particular offense on your part and you may truthfully swear under oath that that is the case.

Since indecent exposure is a serious and therefore jailable offense in Virginia, you should have an attorney to represent you in order to achieve the best possible outcome which I've described above. If you cannot afford to hire such an attorney you should request that the court appoint one to represent you in this matter.