For what reason might a notary be charged with a Class A misdemeanor?

A notary public can be charged with a Class A misdemeanor for overcharging for notarial services because this action directly violates the ethical and legal standards established for notaries. Each state sets specific fees for notary services, and exceeding these fees can lead to legal repercussions. The integrity of the notary profession relies on public trust, and overcharging undermines that trust, reflecting poorly on the notary’s accountability to uphold the law.

In contrast, failing to notarize without a government ID, performing notarial acts beyond their authority, and not keeping a notary journal, while potentially serious violations, are typically addressed through administrative penalties or disciplinary actions rather than criminal charges. Each of these actions can lead to issues in the notarization process, but they do not carry the same weight of a Class A misdemeanor as the act of overcharging does, which poses a direct harm to the financial rights of individuals seeking notarial services.