Stealing Charges in Berkeley, MO - for as little as $450

Did you recently receive a ticket for stealing in Berkeley, MO (or from somewhere else in the St. Louis vicinity)? Was the value of the goods allegedly stolen more or less than $500? Do you know what makes this type of offense a misdemeanor, and what makes it a felony level charge? Are you in the process of figuring out your rights and options? If you are thinking about pleading guilty, do you understand the consequences of making this kind of decision? Are you familiar with the benefits of hiring an experienced attorney to help you get through the process?

When you are dealing with a Berkeley MO stealing charge, you want to make sure you handle it correctly. For instance, it is absolutely not a good idea to plead guilty. Again, it is NOT a good idea to simply plead guilty to this kind of charge. Why? Let’s take a look at some reasons:

1. Pleading guilty will result in a conviction for stealing on your permanent record
2. This will make getting a job in the future difficult, because most employers run criminal background checks on all candidates
3. If you currently have (or are trying to get) a commercial driver’s license (CDL), then a criminal conviction could cause you to lose it
4. A plea of guilt will also likely result in a loss of any governmental support you may be currently enjoying (like food stamps or public housing)
5. And pleading guilty a stealing charge in Berkeley, Missouri can cause trouble when you apply for a student loan or try to get into some colleges

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

But we have a much different plan in mind!! First of all, we would want to closely examine the facts of your case to see if there are any defenses available to you. We would also work with the prosecutor to see about getting the charge reduced to a lesser offense (so that it does not even show up on your record). And at the very least, we could work out an SIS (Suspended Imposition of Sentence). An SIS is a probationary period (of usually one to two years). If upon completion of the probation period you have not committed any other crimes, then the original charge of stealing will be wiped clean from your record.

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!!