If you have been accused of shoplifting, you deserve a strong defense. Fighting back against these charges might seem daunting, but with the help of our skilled defense attorneys, you may be able to achieve a fair outcome.
Being found guilty of a theft-related crime, such as shoplifting, can have a profoundly negative impact on your life in several ways. Fortunately, these charges are defensible. Let our Butler shoplifting lawyer review the allegations against you and determine the right way to protect your rights in court.
Under state law, what most people call shoplifting is formally known as retail theft. This offense encompasses a broad range of conduct that extends beyond simply taking merchandise without payment. For example, a person can be charged with retail theft if they conceal items in a store, alter or remove price tags, transfer goods into different containers, or even consume food or beverages before paying. Attempting to return items that were not purchased in order to obtain a refund or store credit also falls under this definition.
The seriousness of a retail theft charge depends largely on the value of the merchandise involved and whether the accused has prior convictions. For example, stealing merchandise valued at less than $150 may be treated as a summary offense for a first-time offender, carrying potential fines and a criminal record. However, higher-value thefts or repeat offenses can result in a felony charge in some cases.
Because the retail theft statute is broad, even minor or unintentional acts can lead to criminal charges. Our Butler shoplifting attorneys are prepared to defend you regardless of the circumstances surrounding your arrest.
The defense strategy you settle on following a shoplifting arrest should depend on the facts of your case. Our team of proactive shoplifting lawyers in Butler could review the evidence against you and determine the weak points in the government’s case. Some common approaches include the following:
In many cases, an arrest for shoplifting is made using little more than grainy security camera footage. In situations like these, it is not difficult to understand how the police might misidentify the perpetrator and make a false arrest. If you can show someone else was actually to blame, you have a viable defense strategy.
Shoplifting is an intentional act. For you to be convicted of this crime, the prosecution has to show you intentionally tried to deprive the merchant of their property. That means you should be acquitted of the charge if you accidentally walked out of the store without paying for the item or made some other kind of absent-minded mistake.
The prosecution has to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In many cases, they lack sufficient evidence to meet that burden. Our attorney could attack the state’s case by arguing that there are no grounds to find you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, even if everything the state says is assumed to be true.
While some people might consider retail theft a minor offense, the reality is that any mark on your criminal record could have lasting consequences. A conviction can make it difficult to find a job or secure housing, and these complications will continue to affect you long after you serve your jail time and pay your fines.
All the attorneys at our firm are former prosecutors, and therefore, they understand what the government needs to convict you. We could use our experience and skill to establish that they have not met their burden of proof. Call our Butler shoplifting lawyer at Benjamin Levine Law today to get started.