Missouri Expungements Legal Questions

Do you mean that you have already pleaded guilty to all 4 shoplifting charges? If so, then no, you can't get those misdemeanor shoplifting convictions expunged right now. Starting January 2018, you can hire an attorney to file a petition for expungement and represent you at the expungement hearing, but you will have to have a clean record for 3 years (for misdemeanor stealing) since the conviction date before your attorney can file. So for example, if you pleaded guilty in December 2016 to shoplifting, you would have to wait until December 2019 before your attorney could file a petition for expungement. Another option for you to consider If not much time has passed since you pleaded guilty, and if you didn't have an attorney representing you, it's possible to hire an attorney to withdraw your guilty plea and negotiate a plea bargain deal with the prosecutor for some or all of these previous shoplifting charges and get the charges dismissed or reduced to a lesser offense, such as "Littering."... Read More

Yes, if you plead guilty to shoplifting, you will have a conviction for stealing on your permanent criminal record, and that will prevent you from getting a job, renting an apartment, and getting federal student loans for college. Hopefully, because you are 15, your case will be prosecuted in juvenile court where they will probably just put you on probation. However, if your case is prosecuted in "regular" court, you will need to hire an attorney to represent you if you want to avoid ending up with a conviction for stealing.... Read More

Only a few types of misdemeanor convictions are eligible for expungement (removal) from your criminal record after 10 years have passed since the conviction. (You must have 10 years with no other misdemeanors or felonies.) I suggest that you consult an experienced criminal defense attorney to determine whether your misdemeanor is eligible for expungement.... Read More

In Missouri, the maximum penalty for misdemeanor shoplifting is 1 year in jail and a fine of $1,000. If you plead guilty or are convicted of shoplifting, that conviction goes on your permanent criminal record and it can't be expunged. You need to hire an attorney to represent you if you want to keep from having a shoplifting conviction on your criminal record and avoid jail time.... Read More

Charges that a person receives in juvenile court are sealed from the public's view. So, if you were charged as a juvenile, the disposition of those cases are sealed. You don't indicate whether the '2nd time in trouble' was a juvenile case or not, so I can't address this issue. But if there is a 2nd offense all you have to do is call the clerk of the court and find out where the case is at this time.... Read More

Not in Missouri. Only convictions can be expunged, not charges. If you were arrested for domestic abuse but you were not actually charged, it may be possible to expunge the arrest record, but only if you can prove that you were arrested based on false information and that no charges were filed against you.... Read More

Taking steps to clean up your sister's record will drastically improve her efforts to get a job. Felony convictions really hold you back in that way. Depending on the exact conviction and sentence, there may be several remedies. Consult with a local criminal attorney to discuss reduction of the felony to a misdemeanor, 1203.4 dismissal (expungement) and certificate of rehabilitation to determine what is appropriate in your sister's situation.... Read More

No. In Missouri, only a few types of misdemeanor convictions are eligible for expungement and yours do not qualify. You can get a first-time misdemeanor DUI expunged but only after 10 years have passed since the conviction, and only if you have had no other misdemeanors or felonies during that time period, which doesn't appear to be the situation in your case.... Read More

In the eyes of the court, you are an adult when you are age 17. If you were convicted of criminal mischief by a juvenile court, then maybe that conviction can be sealed, but if your case was prosecuted through a regular court (not juvenile court), then the felony conviction will remain on your criminal record forever and you are not eligible to own a firearm.... Read More