Shoplifting is also called retail theft. This is a common crime in Tacoma, Washington, and even though many people view shoplifting as a relatively minor infraction, it is a serious crime with penalties that are swift and severe. A conviction will dramatically affect your life and could land you behind bars. Our Tacoma shoplifting lawyers can help if you were arrested for shoplifting in Tacoma and charged with retail theft.
The professional litigators at the Law Office of Jason S. Newcombe have more than 30 years of collective experience. We will protect your rights while pursuing options to have your charges dropped or the punishments minimized.
The severity of your punishments will be influenced by the value of the stolen items. In Washington State, if the stolen merchandise was valued at more than $5,000 the crime is classified a first degree theft. This Class B felony Tacoma shoplifting crime imposes penalties of up to $20,000 in fines and 10 years in prison, if convicted. There is also a possibility that additional civil damages will be awarded to the owner of the merchandise.
If the value of the stolen property was between $750 and $5,000, the crime is considered a Class C felony. The perpetrator of this serious Tacoma shoplifting crime would be charged with second degree theft, and the penalties would include fines of up to $10,000 and five years in prison. Finally, if the dollar amount of the merchandise was less than $750, the charge would be third degree theft, which is a gross misdemeanor for shoplifting. If you're convicted of this crime, you could spend up to a year in the Tacoma jail and pay fines totaling $5,000.
Yet another devastating effect of a retail theft conviction is the acquisition of a criminal record. This could prevent you from getting a good job or finding a place to live, underscoring how damaging retail theft truly is. Our Tacoma shoplifting attorneys will help you face these charges, so schedule a consultation today.
Protect Your Rights With Help From Our Tacoma Shoplifting LawyersRetaining an experienced Tacoma attorney to deal with shoplifting charges makes sense, because prosecutors often seek the most severe punishments allowable by law in retail theft cases. Our Tacoma shoplifting attorneys will do everything the law allows to mitigate the punishments you're facing, and aggressively fight against maximum sentences.
Our attorneys have considerable experience handling shoplifting cases in Tacoma. We realize that an arrest for retail theft is embarrassing, and that you're worried about going to jail or paying fines you can't afford. However, don't allow stressful nature of a Tacoma shoplifting charge to prevent you from taking steps to protect your future. Contact our Tacoma shoplifting lawyers today and get reliable counsel from a team of litigators that care about how your case is resolved.