QUESTION
Can you go to jail after a first offense felony for retail theft?
Asked on Dec 06th, 2013 on Criminal Law - Illinois
More details to this question:
My mom and sister shoplifted $2,500 worth of items. They sat over night at the local police station, had to go to court the next morning and we had to pay bail money to get them out. Now they have court on the 19th. They charged them with a felony class 4 (we live in IL). This is their first offense as both have clean records. I’m worried about what’s going to happen. Can they both do time? Will they have to pay a fine? They both are also on section 8, can they lose it? They want to use the public defender. I don’t want them to. Can the public defender really help them?
1 ANSWER
Divorce and Family Law Attorney serving Hillside, IL
Partner at
The Law Office of Vincent C. Machroli, P.C.
1 Award
They're not going to get jail time, but they will have to pay fines and court costs/fee, + there will be several more aspects to the sentence they receive. A skilled criminal defense attorney would need to discuss this matter with them in greater detail, & ask them many questions, in order to give them the complete, proper legal advice they need (& a quote to represent them). They should schedule a consultation ASAP. Once the case has been resolved to their satisfaction (hopefully), they'll be glad they paid the money to hire an experienced attorney in this field who knows the correct things to do to properly protect their legal rights.
Answered on Dec 24th, 2013 at 5:35 AM