Ramsey County Shoplifting
All shoplifting offenses committed in Minnesota are punishable by jail time and can result in a permanent criminal record. This permanent record will stay with you forever. Most professional associations, such as nursing associations and teacher’s associations, the legal profession as well as the State of Minnesota will not hire anyone with a shoplifting conviction. You may even have difficulties obtaining your professional license. Furthermore, lenders are often reluctant to work with those who have a criminal record, even for something as minor as shoplifting.
Ramsey County Shoplifting Lawyer and Expungement
If you have been arrested for shoplifting, you may seem like the cheapest and easiest option is to accept a guilty plea, serve your sentence and then ask for expungement at a later date. However, the reality is, full expungement after a guilty plea is very expenseive and is not possible.
Instead, a better option is to ensure that your shoplifting arrest does not appear on your permanent record in the first place. This is where an experienced Ramsey County shoplifting lawyer comes in.
Facing a Shoplifting Conviction – Now what?
When facing a shoplifting conviction, the first thing you need to do is contact an experienced Ramsey County criminal defense lawyer. The reason is because you will need someone who understands the Minnesota law and can ensure you do not end up with a permanent shoplifting conviction. With over 22 years experience in criminal defense, Martin S. Azarian Criminal Defense, P.A. can provide you with the aggression and the experience you want. Furthermore, 95% of his misdemeanors shoplifting clients have had their theft case dismissed.
The second thing you need to understand when it comes to a shoplifting charge is that going to court alone is a big mistake. Remember, anything you say in court can and will be used against you. You cannot talk you way out of a shoplifting conviction. The prosecutor is not there to help you. The prosecutor’s responsibility is to see that you are convicted. And the judge cannot help you. The judge’s is only interested in whether you want to plead guilty or not guilty. And trying to explain to the judge what you did will not help you; it will only hurt you because what you will say will only add to your record for everyone to see!
The Consequences of a Shoplifting Conviction
A theft conviction of your permanent record can negatively impact your entire life, more than you may realize. No matter how minor the offense is, you will always have to explain your conviction to potential employers, landlords, credit bureaus, colleges and professional associations, and, in most instances, they do not care about the background behind the conviction. They see a shoplifting conviction and that’s all they see. And in today’s competitive job market a shoplifting conviction can make all the difference between a “yes” and a “no.” What’s worse, once you are in the criminal background check database, you are in it for life and your name and conviction will be bought and sold over and over again!
The key is to avoid this criminal record now to protect your future.
Shoplifting convictions do destroy lives, even though they are considered a misdemeanor. One small mistake and you could be facing a lifetime of problems. However, don’t make another mistake and try to fight this conviction alone- call Martin S. Azarian Criminal Defense, P.A. and get the legal representation you need.
Ramsey County Theft Attorneys and Lawyers
Being charged with shoplifting is not something that you need to battle alone. What you need during this trying time is a Ramsey County shoplifting lawyer that is aggressive, honest, knowledgeable and trusted. What you need is Martin S. Azarian Criminal Defense, P.A. The Law Office of Martin S. Azarian Criminal Defense, P.A. has been a trusted name in shoplifting defense for over 22 years. When you need a lawyer that may make all the difference to your case, and the outcome of your future, you need Martin S. Azarian Criminal Defense, P.A. Call our Ramsey County criminal defense attorney about your case today at 952-451-4987 and receive a free initial telephone consultation.