Charged With Theft
While being charged with theft is considered to a lesser crime than others that fall in the category it is still important that you take the proper steps to ensure that you do not end up with a criminal record. The main things you will need to consider if you have been charged with theft is that the prosecution will need to prove that you intended to steal the item, the penalties involved with being charged with theft, and the advantages of having a lawyer on your side.
Simply because you left a store without paying would not constitute being charged with theft unless they were able to prove that you fully intended to leave without paying. There are a number of reasons that someone charged with theft could have forgotten to pay for something and proving otherwise can be a difficult task. However if you do find yourself charged with theft the penalties vary significantly from community service, fines, or even up to six months in jail.
Depending upon your situation you may be wise to consult a lawyer as soon as possible. This is especially true if you have been charged with theft over five thousand dollars as the consequences for being convicted of this crime are much harsher. Having a criminal lawyer examine your case will increase your chances of either being acquitted or having the charged with theft dropped altogether. You can find a local criminal lawyer in our free legal database located here.
