Shoplifting Charges at The Mills Outlet Mall in St. Louis, MO - for as little as $450

Were you recently charged with shoplifting (or simple theft) while at The Mills Outlet Mall in Northern St. Louis? Did a security guard witness you place an item in your bag or under your shirt? Did the security guard or store employee force you to stay on the premises and ask you questions? Was the value of the items found on you worth more or less than $500? Do you know why that is an important question? Are you now thinking about your options and rights? Are you aware of the benefits of hiring an experienced attorney to help guide you through the process?

Most people who are caught shoplifting (or theft) at The Mills in St. Louis simply plead guilty to the charge. They do so because they believe their only option available to them is to plead guilty (so that they can just get it over with). They also believe that if they plead guilty, they can put it all behind them so that they can forward. But the fact of the matter is that if you plead guilty, the negative impact of that decision will stick with you well into your future.

At The Bankruptcy Company, we have a much different plan of action in mind. We want to try and accomplish one of two things: 1) get the charges reduced to some lesser infraction (like “littering”); or 2) get the charges thrown out altogether (this might happen if in fact you were wrongly accused, or if the store security guard violated your rights). Either way, this is a far better option than pleading guilty!!

Why? Because having a theft conviction on your permanent record can have an adverse effect on your ability to get a good job (especially one at a retail store). And if you are an individual who depends on certain government benefits, you should know that a shoplifting charge can remove you from future eligibility.

And then of course there is the immediate consequence of the potential sentence that the court can hand down if you plead guilty:

As of January 1, 2017, the following laws regarding stealing / theft / shoplifting went into effect:

1. If you are caught with goods valuing less than $150, and you have had no prior stealing-related charges, it is a Class D Misdemeanor
2. If you are caught with goods valuing between $150 - $750, it is a Class A Misdemeanor
3. If you are caught stealing an animal; or if you have been previously found guilty of three 93) stealing-related cases within ten (10) years of the present case, it is a Class E Felony
4. If you are caught with goods valuing between $750 - $25,000, it is a Class D Felony
5. If you are caught with goods valuing $25,000 or more, it is a Class C Felony

The affordable St. Louis shoplifting attorneys at The Bankruptcy Company, have been helping people with their theft charges for over ten (10) years. Our goal is to make sure that the charges leveled against you do not stay on your permanent record, and do any lasting damage. And we want to do all of this at an affordable price. The fees for a typical shoplifting case start at $450. But the initial consultation to discuss your legal issues is free of charge. So contact us today!!

We have two main locations: in the Central West End of St. Louis, at 1 North Taylor (on the corner of Taylor and Laclede), 63108; and in the Twin Cities of Festus / Crystal City, at 1000 Truman Blvd (Highway 61/67), 63019. The initial consultation is free of charge. So contact us today to learn more!!