Stealing Charges in Bel-Ridge, MO - for as little as $450

Have you recently received a ticket for stealing in or near Bel-Ridge, MO (or from anywhere else in the St. Louis area)? Was this citation issued in a grocery store, or retail outfit, or even a convenience mart? Did the store manager or security guard detain you for a period of time? Are you now thinking about pleading guilty to the ticket? If so, do you know about the consequences of such a decision? Are you familiar with all the benefits that an experienced attorney can provide you with?

The first thing you should know about a Bel-Ridge MO stealing charge is that the state of Missouri subdivides the severity of the charge into separate categories.

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

And of course there are all of the long term consequences of a guilty plea as well. For example, a stealing conviction stays on your permanent record forever. That means when you apply for a job or to rent an apartment, the employer or landlord will undoubtedly run a criminal background check (and as a result, you will very likely be screened out as a candidate). Or if you have a CDL (commercial driver’s license), then the conviction could result in a suspension of that license. Or if you are currently enjoying any governmental benefits (like food stamps or public housing), then you could easily lose those.

But we have a much different plan in mind!! We would first of all want to review all of the facts in your particular case to determine if there are any viable defenses that we might assert on your behalf (to see about getting the case dismissed). In addition, we would always work very closely with the local prosecutor to try and get the charges reduced to a lesser infraction (so that nothing shows up on your record). And at the very least, we would want to work out an SIS (Suspended Imposition of Sentence) with the court. An SIS involves a period of probation (usually one to two years). If upon completion of the probation period you have stayed out of trouble (in other words, you have not gotten charged again with stealing), then the original charge will drop off altogether.

The affordable St. Louis stealing defense 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!!