Lafayette, LA Theft and Property Crimes Attorney
In Louisiana, the crime of “theft” covers a wide variety of charges, from misdemeanor offenses such as shoplifting to serious felonies like armed robbery. For 20 years, Louisiana criminal defense lawyer Thomas V. Alonzo has defended clients against all theft charges including:
- SHOPLIFTING
- EMBEZZLEMENT
- BAD CHECK
- FELONY THEFT
- ROBBERY
- ARMED ROBBERY
- BURGLARY
- CARJACKING
Whatever the charge, do not gamble with your future. The consequences of a criminal conviction can be life-long. All theft charges are serious, but when a charge escalates to grand theft or is considered a violent crime and jail time is a possibility, you need to hire an experienced criminal defense attorney like Thomas V. Alonzo immediately.
Shoplifting and Misdemeanor Theft
If this is a first offense and the amount taken is under $500, it may be possible for the defendant to enter pre-trial diversion rather than go to court. The defendant will need to pay fines and restitution and could be required to perform community service. After any probationary period, it is possible to expunge the shoplifting arrest from your criminal record.
For second, third or more shoplifting offenses, or theft of items valued over $500, the charge becomes felony shoplifting. Do not let a moment of bad judgment negatively impact your future. Theft lawyer Thomas V. Alonzo will aggressively defend you and will try to get felony charges reduced to a misdemeanor charge or multiple charges reduced or dropped.
Penalties for Felony Theft
Felony theft includes theft of high value items, multiple instances of theft, organized white collar crime, and burglary. The penalties for a conviction of felony theft include fines, restitution and a prison sentence — having a felony conviction on your record can have serious implications for your future. You need a competent criminal lawyer to help you fight your charges and receive the best possible legal outcome.