How much will my theft charge cost me?

Question

I was arrested for stealing two bracelets. It was the first time I ever took anything but the friend that was with me kept stealing as I spent half my paycheck on things. I'm a 4.0 student and Im very active in school. Is there any way I can have this removed off my record? I already paid $150 in bail and I have a court date coming up. How much will this all cost when I'm done? Should I hire a lawyer even though I have been proven guilty?

Gregory Casale · Answer

What do you mean you have been proven guilty? Call me to speak about this if you like. If you have already admitted guilt to the store does not mean that you have to be found guilty by the Court. We may be able to keep your record clean depending on where you are in this process.

Jared Austin · Answer

First off, you have not been proven guilty until you either enter a plea of guilty or a judge or jury finds you guilty after a trial. You are probably looking at at least a few hundred dollars in fines and costs and restitution depending on if the stuff was returned in a condition to be re-sold. If you are placed on probation there will be costs to that as well. You may be eligible for a diversion program which could keep the charge off of your record once you complete community service. HYTA status has the same effect and can be used for crimes committed between the ages of 17 and 21. The worst case scenario is probably probation but diversion is the usual solution for something like this. I recommend retaining a lawyer simply because he knows the system and you don't. If nothing else, being represented should ease your mind a bit. He can also review the report thoroughly for any errors that could get the charges reduced or dismissed.

Eric Sterkenburg · Answer

If you are out of bail and have not been to court you have not been proven guilty. There are defenses against the charges. If you are judged guilty this could cost you as much as $10,000.00. Call me and I can give you more options and advise you on the best course of action.

Roianne Houlton Conner · Answer

If you can not afford to hire a lawyer you need to request that one is appointed to help you with this.

Leonard Harden · Answer

I am confused by your details statement.  I assume you have not pled guilty in court already.    If you still have a court date, get a lawyer.  It sounds like you could have charge placed on file or other diversion to avoid a criminal charge.    At a minimum talk to a criminal defense lawyer and make sure you don't screw up your future.

Jules N. Fiani · Answer

Hire a lawyer. Generally under $1,000.

Michael Morgan · Answer

The court does not keep the bail money if you appear for your court dates. There is a compromise of misdemeanor that can keep an offense off a record and a SOC can often result in a dismissal and there may be factual and legal defenses in your case. You may save money now by representing yourself but a lawyer may get you a favorable result which is important in today's job market since a lot of employers do background checks.

Loren M. Dickstein · Answer

No one can tell you that. Are you going to retain an attorney or ask for a court appointed attorney? Is there restitution? Will you qualify to do community service as opposed to paying fines and costs?  More importantly, why are you worrying about costs? That seems like the least of your concerns. A theft conviction can change the rest of your life. Such a crime can prevent you from getting jobs, your ability to be licensed in different professionals; it can affect custody disputes, your reputation and much more.  I think you need to focus on the bigger picture and hire a good criminal defense attorney to help you.

Andrew Subin · Answer

It depends on which county you're in and what you stole.

Steven D. Dunnings · Answer

If you have been proven guilty, then that means there are no criminal charges or record of conviction after a trial acquitting you, so what do you need a lawyer for?

Craig Elhart · Answer

Hiring an attorney may be of benefit.  The attorney may be able to convince the prosecuting attorney that a deferred sentence would be appropriate in this case.

Harley Gutin · Answer

You should always retain a good attorney to at the very least check that your getting the best possible deal.  On the other hand you want to make sure that you need to take a plea deal as you may have a case that you can take to trial.  Retain a good attorney and have it checked out.  Criminal consultations are usually free.

Paul J. Wallin · Answer

You have not been proven guilty. You should consult with an experienced criminal defense law firm immediately so they can help you. Many courts have special programs that you can attend that would allow you to not have this on your record.

Timothy Klisz · Answer

You have not been proven guilty, as you have not been tried. A lawyer is a must if you want to assure you will not have a lifetime criminal record.

Michael Maltby · Answer

Don't do anything without a lawyer. You may be able to keep th is off your record by way of a stipulated continuance (or what is called a continuance without finding) or by a deferred sentence or by what is called a compromise of misdemeanor etc. A lawyer could help you with these options and more. Good luck!

Thomas Tomko · Answer

The result in your case could be a HYTA plea, a deferred sentence, or a first offender plea.  Much will depend on the Court you are in. You should have your case reviewed by your attorney to see what is available. Under each of these options, the end result could be nothing on your public record.  Alternatively, you could have a trial in your case. However, the facts would need to be reviewed to see whether this is a plausible improvement over one of the above plea offers.

Jeff Yeh · Answer

First of all, how can you have possibly been proven guilty already when your court date is still in the future?! Secondly, if you do not hire a lawyer, you are guaranteed to have a crime of moral turpitude on your record, so say good by to any good jobs when you graduate. You will absolutely need a lawyer if you even wish to minimize the consequences, like reducing the charge, or earning a dismissal in some kind of negotiated settlement.

Robert Watkins · Answer

How have you been proven guilty if the case is still open? You may qualify for appointment of counsel if you are in school. Check with the court clerk.

Michael J. Breczinski · Answer

Until you have pled guilty or been found guilty by a jury, you are not guilty. Get an attorney he may be able to get you a deal where you end up with no record. This could limit your career options otherwise.

Cynthia Henley · Answer

I assume that the value of the bracelets was under $50 so it is a class C misdemeanor? If so, you have an appearance in municipal or justice of the peace court. You want to get a deferred disposition / deferred prosecution. This is like getting a probation but in reality it is a reset with conditions. If you meet the conditions, when you return to court the case will be dismissed. In the future (2 years from dismissal) you can expunge the charge off your record.   If it is a Class B or higher offense, you will absolutely need a lawyer.

Dennis Roberts · Answer

get a public defender.  if you are a student you probably could qualify.

Jared Altman · Answer

You really must hire an attorney right away. Yes, it's possible to avoid a criminal conviction but you are going to need a lawyer.

Michael Palumbo · Answer

These are serious misdemeanor charges that can affect your life you ABSOLUTELY need to retain counsel. Our office can represent you.

James Schoenberger · Answer

You really need an attorney who will work out a plea bargain that will not impact your future.

Stephen Freeborn · Answer

It does not sound like you  have been found guilty as yet you only talk about the bail.  The bail amount is what the court requires you to pay to ensure your appearance at future court hearings.  You are a 4.0 student, and it sounds like you made a VERY poor decision.  Regardless of the cost, I would consult with an attorney.  A conviction on your record could impact your ability to get into certain colleges and could very well disqualify you from scholarships, grants, and loans.    As such, your potential financial losses and the impact it could have on your future could greatly exceed any amount you would an attorney.  How much you pay an attorney depends upon the facts of your case.  Figure at minimum $1500.00.  Consult with an attorney!

Jonathan Willett · Answer

You should be sure to try and get a plea agreement called a "deferred judgment."  This will help ensure that you can have your record sealed later.  This result may be hard to get, so that you should hire a lawyer.

Gary Moore · Answer

You must exert yourself to avoid a conviction for theft. It is totally possible, especially if you are a first offender.

Maureen Baldwin · Answer

Bail is usually not charged for a first offense petty theft. Usually just a ticket is given by the police with a promise to appear. If the case was grand theft, over $1000, then it can be charged as a felony or misdemeanour and while you may be released on O.R., it would take longer. So the seriousness of the case depends on the amount of property taken or whether there were "burglary tools" taken into the stores, such as "booster bags", or wire cutters to remove sensors. Then the case can be charged as a burglary. If it appears as though you and your friend worked together to take or conceal items, then you will bear charged jointly with her. Yes you should get an attorney. With a 4.0, this can be much worse on a career than having a 2.0 GPA in school.

Terry Nelson · Answer

You have not been proven guilty, youve been arrested and accused of a crime.  The arrest is now part of your record, and if convicted of any crime, that will be part as well.  Conviction will affect future employment and other aspects of your life.    What can you do?  Hire an attorney, unless you know how to effectively represent yourself in court against a professional prosecutor intending to convict.  Even if you have been arrested, your attorney MAY be able to negotiate a civil compromise agreement with the store that will result in dismissal of the charges.  Alternatively, the attorney will try to get a dismissal, diversion, reduction, or other decent outcome through plea bargain, or take it to trial if appropriate.    The cost of counsel is something you will have to discuss as part of a consultation.  The value of counsel is in being able to get deals that would not be offered to pro pers.

Eric Rothstein · Answer

Yes hire a lawyer. A good criminal defense attorney will get this resolved for you - maybe even dismissed - in a way that won't hurt you.

Eric Schurman · Answer

Most definitely you should hire a lawyer.  A theft conviction can  impact your life signifacntly (employment, etc).  Avoiding a conviction should be your primary concern.

Christopher McCann · Answer

You should always hire an attorney, even if you think you are "guilty." Firstly, it always must be proven. Secondly, I've had clients who thought they had done something wrong and in reality had not. Thirdly, a good lawyer will get you the best results. How much that costs depends on the area you are from and the skill of the attorney. If you get diversion, there will be no conviction on your record. If you do get convicted, you can get it expunged once you are off probation.

Joseph Dane · Answer

You haven't been "proven" guilty unless you officially plead guilty in court or are convicted after a trial.  With a clean background and a promising future, your lawyer (yes, you'll need one) may be able to work out an alternative disposition - a diversion type program, etc.  The goal is now to avoid a conviction if at all possible.   Do you need an attorney?  Without one, you're all but guaranteeing a theft conviction.  You may have factual, legal or other defenses you'd never know about without a lawyer.  Look for a local criminal defense attorney that routinely practices in the court where you case will be heard.  I'd suggest a lawyer that focuses exclusively on criminal law, rather than a jack of all trades.   They're in court all the time, will know what programs may be available to you in your jurisdiction, etc.    Although this is just "petty theft", the consequences can go far beyond just the court costs and bail if you're convicted.

Philip Hache · Answer

You should hire a lawyer, and speak to him or her in more detail about your case.  Unless you already had a trial or entered a guilty plea, then you are not yet proven guilty.  It is possible to get the charges reduced or dismissed even if you personally feel you are guilty.

Kevin O'Grady · Answer

You are not proven guilty until either you are found guilty after a trial or you plead guilty.  The best chance to keep something off your record is to hire an attorney and fight the charge.

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