Shoplifting Lawyer Washington

Washington Shoplifting Attorney

Shoplifting in Washington is a crime of theft that can have a variety of potential punishments. A suspected shoplifter is usually approached and detained by store security after being observed taking merchandise from the business without paying for it.

A commonly asked question by people accused of the offense is what would be the possible consequences and just how are they going to be treated by the criminal justice system and the Court.

The actual answer to that question depends on exactly what actions are done by the accused shoplifter soon after the event. If the individual gets to be practical and looks for the help of a Washington lawyer, the result can, and frequently will be very different than people who did absolutely nothing and buried their head in the sand hoping it will all go away.

As a Washington criminal defense lawyer representing clients charged with shoplifting and theft for years, our offices possess the direct knowledge and experience to resolve these types of particularly humiliating situations and work on getting a disposition that, on many occasions, does not produce a criminal conviction that could haunt a person throughout their lives.

Sadly, many folks make the crucial blunder of paying attention to friends who have been arrested or so-called experts they met in jail, as well as other non-legal professionals who actually tell them to save lots of their money and go to Court and plead no contest for probation.

The actual long lasting consequences of this mistake can be disastrous. Companies are more and more doing thorough criminal records checks on potential employees and consider a shoplifting conviction to be a major act of dishonesty, justifying the rejection of employment.

A criminal defense lawyer Washington who is aware of the local customs and practices of the Court can often discover an alternative to a criminal conviction, for instance: civil compromise with the shop, informal diversion, city lawyer alternative disposition, conditional dismissal, infraction adjudications, reductions to non-theft offenses, dismissals due to lack of the evidence, are common methods that can be employed in a shoplifting case to mitigate the result.

Our firm strives to find ways to assist our clients avoid a permanent scar on their record when cited or charged for shoplifting. For instance, in cases involving second time offenders, if retained soon after the event, theft charges could be resolved by applying a counseling plan with recognized providers.

Additionally, we will go to Court for the client if necessary, sparing our unnerved clients the humiliation of a public appearance before a Judge in an open Court of Law.

A frequently asked question regarding a shoplifting arrest is whether the District Attorney must have a videotape of the act so as to convict in Court. The simple answer to that question is no.

A shoplifting case commonly involves observations by loss prevention officers, other eyewitnesses and admissions and possible confessions by the accused. The good news is the fact that a seasoned lawyer can frequently punch significant openings in the case to raise reasonable doubt in an effort to either have the charges decreased or terminated in most cases.

When considering a lawyer to defend you on a shoplifting case it is very important find a lawyer who’s got a history of great results. Our firm has this kind of track record. What is very important in all of the Washington shoplifting cases is getting a defense attorney soon after the individual is released from custody.

Our firm will try to begin call with store counsel in many cases and work out just what some refer to as a “civil compromise” wherein the client pays statutory civil penalties and costs to the victim in return for a commitment to not seek criminal prosecution.

Call our office directly immediately for a free consultation about your shoplifting case. Our fees are very affordable and we are going to handle the case personally, limiting the necessity of having to discuss the situation with non-lawyers such as paralegals and legal assistants.

Washington Shoplifting Offense

Even though the term “shoplifting” usually creates images of kids stealing bubblegum and candy from the local convenience store, the truth is, the offense bears with it heavy penalties. Those caught for shoplifting in Washington face charges ranging from a disorderly persons offense up to an indictment for a second degree crime, and calls for a lawyer in our judgment. Each and every attorney at our Law Firm is ready to protect you from these serious claims.

Our law firm handles shoplifting cases in Washington and statewide. The attorneys at our Law Firm will make sure that your interests are secured each and every step of the way. Call us immediately for a free consultation.

Washington Shoplifting Law

Shoplifting can include any one or more of the following acts:

(1) For any person purposely to take possession of, carry away, move or cause to be carried away or transferred, any items shown, kept, stored or offered for sale by every store or some other retail mercantile business together with the aim of depriving the merchant of the possession, use or benefit of such goods or converting the same to the use of such individual without having to pay to the merchant the total retail value thereof.

(2) For any person deliberately to conceal upon his person or otherwise any items presented for sale by any store or any other retail mercantile establishment with the goal of depriving the merchant of the processes, use or benefit of such goods or converting the same to the use of such person without paying to the merchant the value thereof.

(3) For any person intentionally to change, transfer or remove any label, price tag or marking indicia of value or other markings which aid in determining value affixed to any merchandise displayed, held, stored or offered for sale by any store or other retail mercantile establishment and to attempt to purchase such merchandise personally or in consort with another at less than the full retail value with the intention of depriving the merchant of all or some part of the value thereof.

(4) For any individual purposely to transfer any merchandise displayed, held, stored or offered for sale by any store or other retail merchandise establishment from the container in or on which the same shall be displayed to any other container with intent to deprive the merchant of all or some part of the retail value thereof.

(5) For any individual purposely to under-ring with the intention of depriving the merchant of the full retail value thereof.

(6) For any individual purposely to remove a shopping cart from the premises of a store or other retail mercantile establishment without the consent of the merchant given at the time of such removal with the intention of permanently depriving the merchant of the possession, use or benefit of such cart.

Additional information on shoplifting.

It really is worth noting that an individual can only be penalized for this offense if he/she acted with purpose, this means that there must be some intention on the part of the accused to take without having to pay. However, the state can satisfy its burden of proof by showing that the defendant purposefully concealed the goods, which is prima facie proof of the intention to permanently deprive.

Even so, this intention requirement usually provides fertile ground for defense tactics.

An individual has committed a shoplifting offense if he/she,

(1) takes or carries away merchandise offered for sale,

(2) hides or conceals goods,

(3) changes or adjusts price tags,

(4) transfers goods from one container to another,

(5) under-rings at the register, or

(6) gets rid of a shopping cart from the store.

Most frequently, an individual is detained prior to leaving the establishment and accused of hiding or concealing products. A law enforcement office could detain a shoplifting suspect for a good period of time and in a reasonable manner upon having probable cause to believe that the suspect “willfully concealed un-purchased goods.”

On top of that, the officer have to think that “he can retrieve the goods by having the individual into custody.” Whether or not the detention was acceptable is a ruling to be made by the court.

If the judge discovers that the officer effectuating the detention did not act reasonably, criminal and/or civil charges might result. A lawyer from our Washington law firm will ensure that the prosecution fulfills its burden of proof and, if he doesn’t, the case is terminated and/or reduced.

Mandatory Jail and Mandatory Community Service Penalties

In many states, the shoplifting statute mandates community service for a first offense, second offense and third offense. Just for the first offense, the defendant must carry out 10 days of community service.

With the second offense, fifteen days of community service, and for the third or following offense, a maximum of twenty five days may be required. More importantly, if you are determined guilty of a third offense, you’ll be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of 3 months jail time.

It is very important keep in mind however, that the accused could be subjected to imprisonment on a first offense or second offense if an indictable shoplifting offense is involved. If someone is indicted for a fourth degree, third degree, or higher offense, then the sentencing and jail provisions under the criminal code will apply.

Given the consequences related to accumulating shoplifting convictions, as well as the jail associated with indictable offenses, it is of utmost importance for you to hire a criminal defense attorney who can help you avoid the many problems that revolve around this area of the law.

Each and every attorney at our law firm is knowledgeable in taking on shoplifting charges in Washington.