If you were charged with shoplifting in the state of Virginia, you will need to retain the services of an experienced Richmond shoplifting attorney. Our legal team is on your side no matter what you are facing. Give us a call today.
What are the consequences of shoplifting in Virginia?
In the state of Virginia, larceny is a crime that is committed when an individual unlawfully takes property from another individual with the intention to permanently deny the rightful owner of that property. Because of this, shoplifting has been deemed a kind of larceny. The following acts are all considered shoplifting in Virginia:
- Swapping pricetags on certain items
- Pretending to pay for merchandise and leaving without paying
- Concealing an item with the intent to leave without paying for the merchandise
- Altering price tags
If you have been charged with shoplifting in the Commonwealth of Virginia, you may face a number of penalties, depending on the dollar amount of the merchandise you allegedly stole. The penalties for shoplifting in Virginia include the following:
- Stealing more than $5 but less than $500: This is deemed petit larceny, which is a Class 1 misdemeanor. With this offense, you may spend up to one year in jail and face a $2,500 fine.
- More than $500: This is regarded as grand larceny, which is a felony. Here, you may face up to 20 years of imprisonment, as well as very high fines.
In many instances, those who have been convicted of shoplifting charges will also have to pay restitution to the establishment they confiscated the merchandise. Convicted shoplifters should also anticipate being banned from the premises. Our Richmond criminal defense attorney is prepared to help you combat your charges.
What are the defenses against shoplifting?
With shoplifting charges in Virginia, in many cases, there are a number of potential defenses that our Richmond criminal defense attorney can use on your case. Depending on the details of your case, our firm may use any of the following defenses:
- You planned to pay for the item and had not yet left the premises
- They apprehended the wrong person
- You did not realize that you accidentally walked out of the store with an item before paying
- Failure to produce discovery
Contact Our Firm
If you live in Virginia and have been charged with a crime, the time to speak with an experienced Richmond criminal defense attorney is now. Led by Attorney James A. Bullard Jr., our firm has fought on behalf of clients facing serious legal penalties for decades. We handle various criminal and traffic cases, including reckless driving tickets, DUIs, violent crimes, drug crimes, and so much more. Contact James A. Bullard Jr. P.C. today so we can begin formulating a comprehensive defense on your behalf.
