Hickory Shoplifting Lawyer

Hickory Shoplifting Attorney

If you have been charged with shoplifting, you could face penalties that have significant consequences for your personal life and professional career. You could considerably reduce the penalties you are facing by hiring a Hickory shoplifting lawyer who can review your case and develop a customized legal strategy.

Why Choose Cody Law Firm

Although shoplifting is generally not considered one of the more serious crimes, the criminal charge still carries the potential for heavy fines and even jail or prison sentences. Professionally, having a type of theft conviction on your record could have consequences for your career, especially if you work in a retail environment.

Residents in Hickory have learned to trust the legal services of Cody Law Firm. Our attorneys have the experience and knowledge to help you navigate difficult challenges and secure favorable outcomes. We understand how difficult and stressful criminal charges can make your life. We can work to resolve your case so you can put this difficult chapter behind you without having to live with the consequences of a serious criminal conviction on your record.

Cody Law Firm can prevent you from having to face the worst-case scenario when it comes to your criminal charges. While some law firms look for ways to close cases so they can go on to the next, we take a client-centered approach that always keeps your interests as our top priority. When deciding whether to accept a plea bargain, we always defer to our client’s wishes and provide informed legal advice.

If your case warrants going to court, our attorneys are also skilled litigators who are comfortable representing clients inside the courtroom and before a jury. Our top priority is a satisfactory outcome to your case — no matter how long that takes or how much effort is required on our part.

Criminal Penalties for Shoplifting

Under North Carolina law, shoplifting charges can range from a misdemeanor to a felony. Shoplifting refers to the act of concealing items from a store as a means of avoiding paying for those items. It amounts to theft, and the penalties for shoplifting can vary depending on the value of the items that are stolen and how the shoplifter concealed and took the items. Price tag tampering is also a potential misdemeanor charge. This crime involves changing price tags to pay a lower price.

Merchants and shop owners can take steps to detain employees they suspect of shoplifting without fear of being sued. The shop owner must do so reasonably and for a reasonable amount of time.

When the person charged with theft employs a special device, such as a lead-lined bag, to block security tags from functioning, the crime can become a Class H felony. The most common charge for shoplifting is a Class 3 misdemeanor. Subsequent offenses can lead to steep penalties, such as a Class 2 misdemeanor for the second offense within three years or a Class 1 misdemeanor for a third offense within five years.

Legal Defenses Against Shoplifting Charges

One common strategy for defending clients facing shoplifting charges is to question the criminal intent tied to the charges. Shoppers may not have intended to steal merchandise, even if they were later accused of doing so. Criminal intent plays an important role in shoplifting charges, so your attorney can work to question whether you knew you were leaving with unpaid merchandise.

In other cases, the defendant may have believed they were allowed to take the merchandise or that they were given permission. This may be due to a misunderstanding on the part of the accused. Mistaken identity could also be an effective defense strategy if the store owner cannot clearly identify you or prove that you were present at the store at the time of the crime.

FAQs

Q: What Happens for First-Time Offense Shoplifting in North Carolina?

A: First-time offenders are more likely to be shown leniency than repeat offenders in North Carolina. Many criminal laws include provisions for steeper penalties for repeat offenders. Having any criminal record can make you ineligible for first-time offender programs in the future, which is why having an experienced criminal defense attorney for any criminal charge is so important.

Q: What Is the First Offenders Program for Shoplifting in North Carolina?

A: Like most states, North Carolina has various first-time offender programs that allow defendants to avoid going to jail if they complete certain requirements within a set time period.

Requirements may include community service, paying fines or restitution, attending educational or counseling sessions, and staying out of trouble for a specified period. Some programs may allow the defendant to have their charges reduced or even dismissed altogether.

Q: How Might My Shoplifting Case Be Resolved?

A: There are several ways that your shoplifting case may be resolved in Hickory, North Carolina, once you have legal representation. The optimal outcome for any criminal case is to have the charges dropped or to be found innocent following a trial.

Exoneration means that you will not face any probation requirements or any criminal record. Short of that outcome, having the charges reduced or the penalties associated with your charges reduced can allow you to move past the ordeal without serious setbacks for your personal or professional life.

Q: How Much Stealing Is a Felony in North Carolina?

A: Shoplifting is generally a misdemeanor charge. Store merchandise and goods usually are not valued at more than $1,000, but the number of convictions on your record and the nature of the shoplifting could elevate it to a more serious offense.

For example, larceny is a related crime, and theft of $1,000 or more could result in a low-level felony. The use of weapons or any physical damage or bodily harm caused by the defendant could also lead to a felony charge.

Schedule Your Shoplifting Consultation Today

Don’t let a shoplifting conviction become a barrier to future employment opportunities. Being charged with a crime does not mean that you will be convicted. With the help of Cody Law Firm, you can fight the charges against you.

Our law firm has helped many clients who were accused of shoplifting resolve their cases on favorable terms. Whether through questioning the evidence being used against you or providing context that the court may not have been aware of, we can change the narrative surrounding your criminal charges. To schedule your consultation, contact our office today.