Shoplifting in Tarrant County
Theft is the most prosecuted state crime in Texas. If you have been arrested for shoplifting in Arlington Tarrant County, Texas you can be facing anywhere from a $500 fine up to 99 years in prison, depending on the severity of the case, criminal history, evidence and other contributing factors.
Unfortunately, even first time shoplifters can face stiff penalties because they typically do not know how to push for programs and/or record expungement.
Additionally, often parents feel they are doing the right thing by making their minor face a shoplifting case and accept punishment without adequate legal representation. Sadly they only realize too late that a minor infraction had major, lifelong consequences when it was not handled by a knowledgeable attorney. A Tarrant County Criminal Defense attorney who understands the nature of a shoplifting case has the power to give you the best outcome for your situation.
What is shoplifting?
Shoplifting occurs whenever a store thinks you were attempting to take merchandise without paying for it. This can happen due to cameras in the store, security guards or even store employees accusing a person of taking an item beyond the point of sale. Often, security guards and employees who are unfamiliar with the law can make mistakes in the collection of evidence that are beneficial to you so what happens in the first few minutes after you have been approached for shoplifting is critical.
Try to write or record what happened before the police arrive to the best of your recollection as soon as possible to help your Tarrant County Criminal Attorney defend the case.
What are the penalties for shoplifting in Arlington, Texas and Tarrant County, Texas?
As the cumulative value of the stolen items increases, the penalties for shoplifting in Arlington Tarrant County, Texas increases as well. For this reason, shoplifting offenses range from misdemeanors to felonies.
In addition to the difference of the value of the item or items in question, things that may bump up a charge to a felony can include criminal history, the type of item as well as the type of alleged victim in the case.
What do I do if I have been accused of shoplifting in Arlington or Tarrant County, Texas?
If you have been accused of shoplifting in Arlington, Texas, the store will likely detain you and call the police. Try to document everything that happens in the time before the police arrive: How were you approached? Had you left the store? Were your possessions searched, who searched them and did they do this with your consent? These are things that may help you Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyer in defending you.
Next, contact a Tarrant County Criminal Attorney as soon as possible. The quicker you contact a lawyer that specializes in criminal cases for shoplifting in Arlington, Texas or the surrounding areas, the greater the chance the Tarrant Criminal Defense Lawyer can have the case removed from your record and even possibly dismissed altogether.
An arrest for shoplifting in Tarrant County, Texas can have lifelong consequences that can include hefty fines, jail time and a court record that may keep you from potential jobs and opportunities in the future. Contact a Tarrant County lawyer as soon as possible.