Stealing Charges in St. Charles, MO - for as little as $450

Have you been charged recently with stealing or theft in St. Charles, MO (by either the city of county)? If so, do you know if the value of the allegedly stolen goods was more or less than $500? Do you understand the difference between a misdemeanor and felony level charge? Are you trying to figure out your options and legal rights? If you are thinking about pleading guilty, do you have a full understanding of the long term consequences of that decision? Are you familiar with the benefits of retaining an experienced attorney to handle the case for you?

If you are not too sure on how to answer these questions, then it is definitely time that you speak with an attorney about your case!! Why? Let’s take a look at some common reasons:

1. An experienced St. Charles stealing and/or theft attorney can examine all the relevant facts of your case to determine if there are any viable defenses available to assert on your behalf (in an attempt to get the charges thrown out)
2. A good lawyer can work closely with the local prosecutor to see about getting the charges reduced to some lesser infraction (like “littering,” which is an offense that does not even show up on your permanent record)
3. An attorney can at the very least work out an SIS (“suspended imposition of sentence”) with the court in which you are given a period of probation (and if you stay out of trouble throughout the probationary period, then the initial stealing charge drops off altogether)

But if you choose to plead guilty, you should know that there are a number of potential consequences that you would have to face in the future. For example, a stealing conviction on your record will make it difficult for you to get a decent job or apartment, because most employers and landlords run criminal background checks (as a way to screen out candidates).

And you would also have to face the immediate consequence of the potential sentence that the court can hand down for such an offense.

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 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!!