Shoplifting is a serious crime. Being charged with misdemeanor shoplifting, no matter how small the amount may ruin lives. Remember, employers, credit bureaus, landlords, and professional associations do not consider and are generally not interested in the value of the item that was stolen or whether it was your first offense. Potential employers, professional associations such teacher’s associations, nursing associations, security based jobs, and even the State of Minnesota may not be willling to hire you or permit you to obtain your professional license if you have a shoplifting conviction on your record. Lenders may not lend to you and landlords may not rent to you if you have a permanent shoplifting conviction.
All shoplifting offenses committed in Minnesota are punishable by jail time and may result in a permanent criminal record. A permanent shoplifting conviction, no matter how minor, may cause problems for you in the future.
Persons with a permanent shopliftring conviction may find it nearly impossible to obtain meaningful employment, keep a good job, apply for a good job, obtain credit, keep a professional license or obtain a professional license.
A plea of guilty resulting in a permanent criminal conviction for shoplifting, no matter how minor cannot be fully expunged. And trying to obtain an expungement after a plea of guilty resulting in permanent criminal conviction is very difficult and expensive. So keeping a shoplifting conviction off your criminal record from the outset is a priority!
I have been charged with Shoplifting and I want to keep it off my Record.
What Should I do?
First, you should immediately contact an experienced criminal defense attorney who has a many years of courtroom experience. Martin Azarian has been practicing criminal defense for over twenty-two years, seventeen years in Minnesota. The vast majority of his misdemeanor shoplifting clients have their misdemeanor theft cases dismissed or the charges reduced! Most do not have to go to court. Second, do not go to court alone, and do not think about pleading guilty to a crime without talking to an experienced attorney. Even if you are guilty there may be ways to keep this offense off your criminal record.
Going to court and trying to talk your way out of it may not help. Anything you say in court may be used against you. Trying to explain to the judge what makes you guilty or why you may be innocent is usually not helpful. The judge cannot help you; he cannot dismiss your case and cannot give you advice. As a general rule, judges are only interested in two things: plead guilty or not guilty. Also, in some cases, the Clerk may announce your name and your charge in open court-how embarrassing!
Here’s what you need to know: Martin Azarian has twenty-two years of criminal defense experience. The overwhelming number shop-lifting defendants represented by Martin Azarian either have their cases dismissed or result in no permanent conviction. In most cases you do not have to go to court, Martin S. Azarian Criminal Defense, P.A. will go to court for and fight for you!
The Consequences
Having any type of permanent theft conviction on your record may have a severe and life long negative impact on your future. Many employers, landlords, credit bureaus, landlords, colleges, professional associations perform background checks and they will find your conviction. No matter how minor the offense you may never be able to explain it away. Imagine you go to court alone, and plead guilty and avoid jail time. Think you got a good deal? Imagine, five years in the future. You are at an interview for a great job and your potential employer asks you about your shoplifting conviction. What are you going say…it was just ten dollars? The interview may end maybe without a job. And guess what? This may happen to you at every job interview because employers use the same background checking companies and once you are in their data-base it will not come off. Potential employers may think you are a thief and may not give you a meaningful job. That may mean years of lost income!
The key is to try to keep it off your record from the outset!
Shoplifting convictions may destroy lives. All it takes are two bad decisions, the first is to commit the crime, the second is to go to court alone or not retain an experienced attorney. Call Martin Azarian. He may be able to have your misdemeanor theft matter dismissed or reduced.
Minnesota theft lawyers & attorneys
If you have been charged with a shoplifting offense you need an aggressive, trusted, honest, knowledgeable attorney; Martin S. Azarian Criminal Defense, P.A. The Law Firm of Martin S. Azarian Criminal Defense, P.A. brings 22 years of experience to your case, seventeen in Minnesota. When you retain him, you get his 22 years of courtroom experience. Period! What you need is aggressive representation that can achieve the best possible outcome for you. So call the Minnesota defense attorney who cares about your case at 952-451-4987 for your free initial telephone consultation.