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

Is there a ticket out there for stealing / theft charges in Overland, MO with your name on it? Are you now trying to figure out the best of handling it? Do you know that by hiring an experienced attorney, there is a chance of getting the charge dropped or reduced (to something insignificant)? Do you understand the consequences of pleading guilty? Are you aware of the long term effects of such a decision? Was the value of the goods allegedly stolen more or less than $500? Do you know why that is such an important distinction?

The main thing that you should know, right off the bat, is that you SHOULD NOT plead guilty to this charge. Unfortunately, that is exactly what most people end up doing. Why? There are two main reasons: 1) they have no idea that there are any other options available; 2) they simply do not have the funds to hire an attorney. Neither of these reasons should prevent you from doing what is best in this kind of situation. First of all, you have many more options other than simply pleading guilty. And secondly, we keep our fees low so that everyone can enjoy the benefits of a good legal defense.

But if you do decide to plead guilty, you should know that the state divides stealing into a few 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 then of course there is the long term consequences that you would have to deal with (such as missing out on job opportunities, rental units, and even student loans).

But we have a much different plan in mind for you!! First of all, we will examine all the pertinent facts in involved with your case to see if there are any viable defenses that can be asserted. We would also want to work closely with the local prosecutor to get the charge reduced to some lesser infraction (such as “littering,” which does not even show up on your record). And at the very least, we would want to try and work out an SIS with the court on your behalf. An SIS is a “suspended imposition of sentence” in which you are given a period of probation (usually one to two years). If during the probationary period you stay out of trouble, then the original charge of stealing will drop off completely.

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!!