Criminal Law
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Answered in 16 minutes by:
3/6/2012
Zoey_ JD, Criminal Defense Lawyer
Category: Criminal Law
Satisfied Customers: 40,603
Experience: Admitted to NYS Criminal defense bar in 1989. Extensive arraignment, hearing, trial experience.
VerifiedHello Jacustomer,
Shoplifting is a misdemeanor, but the fact is that to employers, it's as bad as murder. Nobody is looking to hire someone who they think might rob you blind. This arrest is already on your record. But if you plead guilty you'll have a misdemeanor conviction and face more disturbing discrimination for this than for many more serious crimes.
What you should do is have a criminal lawyer and since this is a first offense and the value of the property isn't much, get him involved and see if he can get you a deferred adjudication where it can be dismissed upon completion of your sentence. Or see if he can negotiate something other than a theft offense, like a disorderly conduct.
Since your case is on tomorrow, you won't be able to get a lawyer now. So when you come before the judge and get arraigned and he asks you how you plead you MUST plead not guilty. That is the only plea that will keep all of your rights open until you can consult with a lawyer. Then you can ask the judge for a continuance to come back on the next date with a lawyer. Or, if money is a problem you can plead not guilty, tell the judge you are without the funds to get representation and ask the judge to appoint you a public defender. With a lawyer, you should be able to do some protecting of your record.
What you DON"T want to do tomorrow is to plead guilty or no contest to a shoplifting charge. Either plea will get you a conviction.
Shoplifting is a misdemeanor, but the fact is that to employers, it's as bad as murder. Nobody is looking to hire someone who they think might rob you blind. This arrest is already on your record. But if you plead guilty you'll have a misdemeanor conviction and face more disturbing discrimination for this than for many more serious crimes.
What you should do is have a criminal lawyer and since this is a first offense and the value of the property isn't much, get him involved and see if he can get you a deferred adjudication where it can be dismissed upon completion of your sentence. Or see if he can negotiate something other than a theft offense, like a disorderly conduct.
Since your case is on tomorrow, you won't be able to get a lawyer now. So when you come before the judge and get arraigned and he asks you how you plead you MUST plead not guilty. That is the only plea that will keep all of your rights open until you can consult with a lawyer. Then you can ask the judge for a continuance to come back on the next date with a lawyer. Or, if money is a problem you can plead not guilty, tell the judge you are without the funds to get representation and ask the judge to appoint you a public defender. With a lawyer, you should be able to do some protecting of your record.
What you DON"T want to do tomorrow is to plead guilty or no contest to a shoplifting charge. Either plea will get you a conviction.
Zoey_ JD, Criminal Defense Lawyer
Category: Criminal Law
Satisfied Customers: 40,603
Experience: Admitted to NYS Criminal defense bar in 1989. Extensive arraignment, hearing, trial experience.
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