Culpeper Shoplifting Lawyer

Shoplifting is treated similarly to larceny in Culpeper. A larceny is the taking away or the stealing of items of value with the intent to permanently deprive the rightful owner of those items. With shoplifting, the law also presides for convictions if somebody is concealing or altering tags in addition to carrying away the item. For example, if somebody is in a store and alters the tags with the intent to mislead the store owner into selling it for a different price, that is considered shoplifting under the law.

The penalties that can result from a shoplifting charge in Culpeper can negatively impact a person’s life in countless ways, which is why it is so important to contact a Culpeper theft lawyer right away. A Culpeper shoplifting lawyer, in particular, can help a person build a defense possible for a person to combat the charges against them.

Penalties

The possible penalties for a person convicted of shoplifting in Culpeper depend on the facts of the case, the price of the item a person is convicted of taking, the person’s criminal record, and whether it was charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. If the item or items that the person is accused of shoplifting are valued at more than $200, then the person would be charged with a felony rather than a misdemeanor.

If charged with a misdemeanor, it could result in fines up to $2,500 and up to 12 months in jail. If charged as a felony, depending on the case, the penalty could be years in prison, extensive probation, and a much higher fine.

Differences for a Second-Time Offender

The consequences of shoplifting might differ for a second-time offender because first-time offenders may receive some leniency from the court or prosecutors solely because they are first time offenders. If a person is convicted for a second time, the court can view it as a willful disobedience, meaning they gave the person a chance the first time and the person disobeyed the law again. In this case, the court might sentence more harshly in an attempt to deter the person from doing it again in the future, so they are not going to give a person a second chance the way that they did the first time around, which is why it is all the more important to contact a Culpeper shoplifting attorney.

Hiring a Lawyer

A person charged with shoplifting should aptly hire a criminal lawyer because shoplifting is theft and is a type of larceny, meaning it can have serious consequences. A conviction for this charge includes the same criminal penalties as a larceny charge, which is more than just a fine, restitution, and incarceration. It also includes the stigma associated with the conviction and a negative effect on future employment.

For this reason, hiring a Culpeper shoplifting lawyer is one of the best decisions a person can make when faced with these charges. A shoplifting attorney in Culpeper can use their investigative tools to uncover the evidence and details of a case to minimize the potential penalties the defendant is facing as much as possible, as well as their experience and knowledge to prepare a robust defense in order to combat a conviction.