Being charged with shoplifting can be confusing and it can be devastating, but it really doesn’t have to be the end of the road for you. For others, they feel shoplifting is a minor offense and they plead guilty just to get it out of the way so they can move on with their lives. What your Scottsdale criminal defense lawyer will tell you is that you should never say more than you have to when arrested for such a crime because there is the possibility of a better outcome in the matter.
If you have been charged with shoplifting, do not discount the accusation and do not feel that your future is completely compromised. There are defense strategies that can be used in your case to help you effectively move on past the case and be productive.
Fighting Shoplifting Accusations
Sometimes shoplifting accusations have merit and sometimes they don’t. Your Scottsdale shoplifting lawyer will review the details in the case in order to secure the best possible outcome.
First, the type of shoplifting you’re being accused of will be reviewed. There are different types and they are:
- Traditional shoplifting where a person removes an item from a retail establishment without paying
- Charging items to an actual person’s account without permission or charging the items to a fictitious account
- Removing, altering or switching price tags in order to pay a different price
- Transferring goods from one container to another or concealing the goods inside a container
If charged with shoplifting committing one of these types, your attorney will review every aspect of the case so that you can receive the best possible outcome.
Result Oriented Defense
What we strive for is results for you. If convicted, the penalties are quite severe in that they can compromise the rest of your life in some way. For instance, an item valued over $2,000 is considered a class 5 felony and this means that there could be jail or prison time involved or simply probation. If there was a prior offense, the sentence can be longer.
Regardless of the level of seriousness, there are collateral consequences that include difficulty finding or keeping a meaningful job, difficulty finding a place to live, and even problems with going back to school, keeping a professional license, or obtaining a professional license after schooling is completed. To avoid as many of these consequences as possible, a highly experienced attorney is needed even if you feel the actual charge is not a major one. Any criminal charge and/or conviction is serious and requires legal intervention.
Contact A Scottsdale Criminal Defense Lawyer
If you have been charged with shoplifting, you are entitled to aggressive representation so that you can combat the charges. Whether the charges are warranted or not, you have rights and those rights need to be protected. To learn more about how you can work toward a better future, call Myles A. Schneider & Associates, LTD. at 602-926-7373 for a free consultation.
