What is the difference between a criminal charge and a criminal conviction?

would ever impose such an outrageous penalty for so slight an offense, but we are dealing here with a question of power and penalties in order to determine the grade or class of crime to which different procedure and methods of trial apply. People v. Lyon, 99 N.Y. 210, 1 N.E. 673. The fundamental distinction between felonies and misdemeanors rests with the penalty and the power of imprisonment. Section 2 of the Penal Law describes a felony as a crime punishable in a state prison, and a misdemeanor as any other crime.