Should I hire an attorney for shoplifting or theft charges in Shepherdsville or Bullitt County? Petty theft and shoplifting charges can actually have a big effect on your future. It is a crime that many employers and others will use to question your character. A conviction on these charges can affect government licensing, your career and the ability to obtain a security clearance.
If you entered the store with the intent to steal and keep the merchandise, you will likely be charged with shoplifting here in Kentucky. The value of the goods in question will have a significant impact on the consequences you face. A first offense for shoplifting can result in a prison sentence from one year to as many as 20 years. This is why you need an experienced, proven criminal defense attorney from the Law Offices of John Schmidt & Associates, PLLC.
Even if you were caught stealing on video with no defense and confessed, you should call us and hire an attorney for shoplifting or theft charges. There are many things that can improve your outcome through negotiations and plea bargaining based on your individual situation while reducing the charges and ultimately the extent of the consequences you are going to face.
Here in Kentucky, we define shoplifting as “theft by unlawful taking.” The prosecution must prove that the alleged shoplifter had control of or attempted to conceal or take “movable property” owned by another person, and that the shoplifter intended to keep it. If the property is classified as “immovable,” one cannot illegally obtain a beneficial interest in that property which you would otherwise not be entitled to have or profit from.
Did you conceal an item or items on your person? Did you switch the price tag in an attempt to lower the cost of the item? The prosecutor must demonstrate that you purposefully intended to take the item, depriving its rightful owner of that item without paying the full purchase price in order to obtain a conviction for shoplifting in Bullitt County or anywhere in Kentucky.
There are a number of factors in any case which can make a difference, like lack of prior record, career, medications, personal circumstances and possible defenses. If you have been convicted of a theft related offense previously, this increases the seriousness and exposure to additional consequences, especially if there is also a probation violation.
My name is John Schmidt, and I am a criminal defense attorney with more than 25 years experience defending those accused of theft, shoplifting, burglary, embezzlement, grand theft and robbery in Shepherdsville, Bullitt County and the surrounding communities.
We invite you to contact us via e-mail, schedule an appointment or call us today at (502) 509-1490 to get the advice and aggressive criminal defense you need and deserve. At the Law Offices of John Schmidt & Associates we bring more than 25 years of experience to your side of the equation, and work hard to achieve a much better outcome in your case than you can or will accomplish on your own. We’ll provide you with the highest level of professional representation, be available for you, and develop a strategy that will help you to get the best possible result in your case.