In the US my dad had something like this happen to him. His lawyer told him the charges were misdemeanors and it'd be better to plead out, so he did. After his prison term, almost a decade later, he successfully argued this in front of his state Supreme Court and was granted post conviction relief. At that point he'd lost almost a decade of his life, but he was now able to get a real job. Long way of saying I don't trust our legal system to be fair and I pity anyone caught in its gears.
Edit: the details were fuzzy. Rereading the case, he plead nolo contendere and it was a PCR trial decision appeal. I updated those parts.
He always insisted he hadn't threatened her- just used choice words, but it was reported as a threat. I remember that after this, every phone call he had was recorded. Every one.
Man that's insane. 10 years is a bonkers sentence. Like even if this went to trial what evidence was there besides a phone record? You bet I'd push for a trial or at very least some discovery.
Wait, the lawyer said they were misdemeanors when they were really felonies? I would think even in that case the judge would be very clear someone was pleading guilty to a felony.
EDIT
Read your other post...wow. Even the worst attorney should be able to make sure their client understands the charges. In this case, the judge and prosecutor should have done the same. What a travesty.
Edit: the details were fuzzy. Rereading the case, he plead nolo contendere and it was a PCR trial decision appeal. I updated those parts.