Many people are unaware of the serious consequences of a shoplifting conviction. Even if you have been charged with a misdemeanor offense, you may still face jail time and/or a fine. Even if you serve no jail time you will face legal problems in the future.
Employers, lenders, professonal associations, credit bureaus, colleges, universities and landlords all check your background before agreeing to to employ or do business with you. You may have trouble finding meaningful employment, obtain credit, keep a professional license and even find a place to live. The best way to avoid the consequences of a theft charge is not to plead guilty. Remember, once you plead guilty to a theft related offense it may never come off your record. The law allows you to keep a theft related offense from appearing on your permanent criminal record. Before you accept a guilty plea for shoplifting or any theft related offense, you need to consider the consequences.
Criminal Conviction and Expungement – Eden Prairie Lawyers
Many people charged with shoplifting assume that the best option is to plead guilty and then ask for expungement at a later date. After all, something as “minor” as shoplifting should easily be removed from a person’s criminal record, right? Wrong. A guilty plea for shoplifting or any offense cannot be fully expunged from your permanent record. Even if the price of the item as for a small amount, the misdemeanor theft conviction cannot be fully expunged which means you will need to live with this mistake for the rest of your life. Your best option is to keep your shoplifting conviction off your permanent criminal record. Retaining Martin S. Azarian Criminal Defense, P.A. may the best way to avoid a permanent criminal conviction and resulting criminal record.
Keeping your Shoplifting Conviction off Your Record
Facing a shoplifting charge can be overwhelming no matter what the situation is. Here is what you need to know. First, do not enter a plea that will result in a permanent criminal record. Even if you are guilty Martin S. Azarian will fight to try to keep this offense off your record. A guilty plea to misdemeanor theft will result in a permanent criminal conviction. Call Martin S. Azarian Criminal Defense, P.A. at 612-343-9000. He has the experience and courtroom knowledge to possibly help you keep this offense off your criminal record. Martin S. Azarian Criminal Defense, P.A. is a trustworthy and aggressive Eden Prairie attorney. Martin S. Azarian Criminal Defense, P.A. has 22 years of criminal defense experience. The overwhelming number of shoplifting defendants represented by Martin Azarian have either had their cases dismissed or had their cases resolved with no permanent conviction. In some cases you do not have to go to court, Martin S. Azarian Criminal Defense, P.A. will go to court for you and fight for you!
You need to understand that when it comes to handling a shoplifting case it is best to not to represent yourself. Anything you say can be used against you. Although it may seem like a good idea to simply explain the situation and hope for the best, this is not your smartest move. The judge will not care if ‘it was a mistake’ or ‘I only stole a $10 item..’ The judge is only interested in a “guilty” or “not guilty “plea. Even if you are guilty there are ways to keep this offense off your criminal record. Retaining Martin S. Azarian Criminal Defense, P.A. may the best way accomplish this.
Shoplifting Conviction Consequences
Trying to explain away a theft conviction may be impossible. Every potential employer, landlord, professional association, lender, colleges or univeristy will not care what your excuse is as to why you committed the crime of theft. They will see you as a person who cannot be trusted and will walk away.
The key is to keep it off your record from the outset!
Martin S. Azarian Criminal Defense, P.A. may be able to keep this shoplifting offense off your permanent criminal record. You have already made one mistake by committing the crime – don’t escalate the mistake by hiring the wrong attorney or attempting to face the Minnesota court system alone.
Eden Prairie Theft Attorney and Criminal Defense Lawyers
Perhaps the best way to avoid a permanent criminal conviction is to call one of Eden Prairie’s most experienced criminal defense attorneys, Martin S. Azarian Criminal Defense, P.A. He has successfully represented hundreds of clients charged with shoplifting in the City of Eden Prairie and throughout the Twin Cities. He provides aggressive representation and sound legal advice. Call the Eden Prairie criminal defense attorney who can make the difference at 952-451-4987 for your free initial telephone consultation.