Glendale Shoplifting Attorney

Some view shoplifting as a petty crime that doesn’t have very strict consequences. The fact is that it can involve jail or prison time and a number of other consequences, including being unable to get a job, find a place to live, or enjoy some of the freedoms that life has to offer. Issues can also be caused with obtaining and maintaining professional licenses and even going to college.

If you have been accused of shoplifting, working with a Glendale shoplifting attorney will help you receive the best possible results whether you are innocent or guilty. You have rights and options and it is important that you know what those are so that you can put the matter behind you.

Effective Defense Strategies

A typical act of shoplifting occurs when an individual removes items from a retail establishment without paying for them. The second way shoplifting is committed is by charging items to the account of a fictitious person or a real person’s account without that person giving their permission. The third method of shoplifting is to change the price of items by removing, altering, or changing the price tag. Lastly, transferring the goods from one container to the other in hopes of concealing the goods is considered shoplifting.

Because of the number of acts that constitute shoplifting, it is possible to be accused of it without actually doing it and this is something that needs to be proven. Your Glendale criminal defense attorney will use strategies in your case that will help show what really happened or why you should not pay the maximum penalties for shoplifting.

Minimizing Or Eliminating Shoplifting Penalties

The shoplifting penalties can be rather severe in that they can include jail time. How much time is spent in jail and what the exact penalties are depends on the value of the items shoplifted, whether or not the person has a prior conviction, and if a container or any other device was used in the commission of the crime. The penalties can also be more severe if shoplifting occurred in addition to another crime.

For instance, a first offense involving items valued over $2,000 can be classified as a class five felony, which means a person can be punished with probation, up to one year in jail, up to six months in prison, or as many as 2 ½ years in custody. If there are any prior convictions, then the penalties are even more.

Shoplifting items worth less than $1,000 may be considered a class 1 misdemeanor unless the property is a firearm. In that case, it is considered a class 6 felony, which means more than the possible 6 months in jail and $2,500.00 fine with an 84% surcharge that a felony results in.

It is possible for your attorney to have charges against you reduced or, if there are certain elements present in your case, to have the charges completely dismissed. Your attorney will discuss the possibilities with you, as well as defense strategies, upon review of your case.

Contact A Glendale Criminal Defense Attorney

Being accused of shoplifting is difficult, whether the act was committed or not. If you have been charged with shoplifting, it is important for you to have the help of a qualified attorney by your side. Through proper representation, you can receive the best possible outcome in the matter, allowing you to move forward with your life. To learn more, call Myles A. Schneider & Associates, LTD. at 602-926-7373 for a free consultation.

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