Lawrenceville Retail Theft Attorneys
With Additional Offices in Buford and Covington
It is important to take shoplifting charges seriously. Depending on the value of the items allegedly stolen, the charge could actually lead to a felony conviction. Persons with criminal records that include felonies can find it difficult to obtain certain jobs or carry firearms. Even if the conviction is a misdemeanor, finding a job can be difficult because most employers would prefer to avoid employees who may commit employee theft.
Seeking Reduced Charges
At The Wren Law Firm, our Georgia attorneys defend clients against shoplifting charges. We seek to have the charges reduced from felony to misdemeanor by investigating the actual value of the items in question. How were they valued? When was the value assigned? Is the value the original retail price or the current marked-down price? Our lawyers examine how the value of the items was determined.
Proposing Alternative Penalties
In addition to ensuring that our clients were properly charged, we develop creative proposals for alternative penalties. We help first-time offenders enter diversion programs, explaining to the court that they made a mistake and are unlikely to repeat their actions. When such programs are completed, their criminal records can be expunged.
Making the Prosecution Prove Its Case
We also look at how the arrest was made. In many instances, loss prevention officers or store security guards are temporary or casual employees who may not understand the store's pricing system. They may not have seen the actual theft. We may be able to demonstrate that a guard was actually elsewhere when the theft occurred. In short, we force the prosecution to prove its case fully.
For more information, please contact our Atlanta shoplifting lawyers at 888-220-3644 toll free to learn how we can help. We offer a free, initial consultation.
