Caroline County Shoplifting Lawyer

Shoplifting is considered a theft charge. Because shoplifting charges are very serious, the person charged should hire an experienced theft lawyer, whether they are a class 1 misdemeanor or a felony.

In Caroline County, a shoplifting charge can carry up to years in jail and up to thousands of dollars in fines. Someone convicted of a shoplifting charge could lose their job or future job opportunities. Being convicted of a crime of moral turpitude means that at some point in that person’s life, they are going to be considered an untrustworthy person. If you are facing charges, it is important to work with a Caroline County shoplifting lawyer as soon as possible.

Defining Shoplifting

Caroline County shoplifting offenses can be defined in two ways. The first is the taking of an item from a store or business without permission and without paying. Shoplifting can also occur without the actual taking of the item.

Many believe that a person cannot be charged with shoplifting unless they removed the items from the store. However, that is not true. The other element of shoplifting is the act of carrying the item out of the store or past all points of sales, with the criminal intent to do so without permission to do so or without paying for it. The picking up or hiding of an item can be considered taking that item. The moment items are taken past all points of sale, an individual can be charged with shoplifting and should consult with a Caroline County shoplifting lawyer.

Laws and Intent

A shoplifting lawyer in Caroline County can help with understanding the law, the facts of the case, and knowing citizen rights. A skilled attorney will have knowledge regarding what the person being charged should and should not do to protect three things: a person’s freedom, their record, and their interests.

The first of the three shoplifting laws is compound felony law. The second is larceny or the stealing of something from a store as opposed to a person. Lastly, concealment or hiding something on with the intent to permanently deprive the store or business of the item or items.

Associated Charges

There are two types of charges, either petty larceny, the concealment of items less than $500, or grand larceny, the act of concealing or taking items from the store worth $500 or more, or the compound felony in the case of an individual having been convicted of two petty larcenies in the past.

They can also be charged with the crime of concealment, and the individual can be charged with shoplifting once the items are hidden or concealed on their person. This means the items were taken inside of the store and instead of somebody walking out of the store with them, they hid those items somewhere on their person with the intent to remove them from the store.

Possible Penalties for Shoplifting

The penalties for violation shoplifting laws in Caroline County are serious and should be broached with a skilled Caroline County shoplifting lawyer that can help those faced with charges of concealment, shoplifting, and larceny.

When someone is charged with shoplifting or concealment of an item less than $500, it is considered a class 1 misdemeanor. In Caroline County, this charge carries a maximum penalty of 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. This person must also pay restitution and any other conditions the court places on them.

When someone faces a grand larceny they face up to 20 years in jail, a fine of $2,500, loss of voting rights, the right to own a firearm, and the loss of other constitutional rights. When the individual convicted is sent to prison, upon release, they must complete supervised probation. If an individual is not given any active jail time, they face supervised probation as the alternative.

Call a Caroline County shoplifting lawyer for more information.

Caroline County Shoplifting Lawyer