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When it is determined that misdemeanor charges are proper, the defendant may decide to plead guilty and be sentenced at that time. If the defendant pleads not guilty, the case proceeds to trial, or a future court date may be set. A determination of proper felony charges results in setting a date for a probable cause hearing, which the defendant may waive. Cabarrus County is a part of Judicial District 19-A. Three district court judges serve the county. Criminal district court meets every Monday through Thursday, and traffic cases and other matters are heard on two Fridays a month. Superior court is convened every week in Cabarrus County, and occasionally sessions are added. One resident superior court judge is assigned to Cabarrus County. DISMISS OR DEFER CASE At various points in the criminal justice process, the district attorney reviews the circumstances of the case and determines whether or not to go forward. The prosecutor has the authority to dismiss the charges, defer the case, or proceed to trial. Deferring prosecution gives the defendant an opportunity to exhibit law abiding behavior for a period of time, after which the charges are dismissed. Deferred prosecution is used occasionally in Cabarrus. The district attorney determines when cases will be calendared. The District Attorney's office serving Cabarrus has five assistants FELONY,PROBABLE CA USE HEARING In a felony case, after the first appearance proceeding, a probable cause hearing is held before a district court judge for defendants detained in jail and those released on bond. The probable cause hearing must be held within fifteen working days, unless the defendant waives the hearing. The judge has to hear enough evidence that probably there was a crime committed and probably this person did it. Actually, criminal justice professionals in Cabarrus said that if there is a "scintilla" of evidence that the accused could be guilty, the case typically goes forward. At the probable cause hearing, the following can occur: · A felony charge can be reduced to a misdemeanor charge, and if the defendant pleads guilty to the lesser charge, the judge may proceed to sentencing; · The State may offer no evidence, which results in a dismissal of the case by the judge; or, · The case is heard, the judge finds probable cause, and the case is continued for arraignment. FELO?vT GRAND JURY INDICTME~VT When a defendant waives a probable cause hearing, or when probable cause is found by' the court, the district attorney takes the case before the grand jury. The grand jury consists of eighteen persons. The grand jury either returns a true bill of indictment (a formal accusation which the grand jury agrees upon after hearing evidence behind closed doors) or no true bill. If a true bill is not issued, the defendant is released from further involvement with the court. Ifa true bill is issued, the offender is bound over to superior