Shoplifting Charges at JCPenney in St. Louis, MO - for as little as $450

Did you recently get charged with shoplifting (or theft) at a JCPenney in or near St. Louis? Are you now trying to figure out your options? Do you have a good idea of what your legal rights are? Do you know if the value of the goods allegedly stolen were more or less than $500? Do you know why that distinction is important? Did you know that if you plead guilty to the charge, then there are major consequences (some that can be foreseen, some that cannot)? Are you aware that if you hire a good attorney to handle the case for you, there is a good chance the charges will be reduced?

Not everyone is aware of their legal rights in St. Louis. In fact, most people have no idea what the consequences are if you are caught with stolen items. Most people simply plead guilty when they are charged with something like shoplifting at JCPenney. But what people do not realize is that doing so will have a disastrous effect on your future.

First, let’s take a look at the immediate concern (which is of course the type of sentence that can be handed down by the court if you were to 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

In addition, a theft charge on your permanent record can have a terrible impact on your ability to get a decent job (or even government benefits). So instead of dealing with all of that, you should probably look into speaking with an experienced attorney. At The Bankruptcy Company, we want to try and get the charges reduced to some lesser infraction (like “littering”). This is far better than dealing with jail time, a huge fine, and a damaged future.

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!!