Shoplifting Defense Attorney in Nashville
If you’ve been caught shoplifting, challenging the charges is probably a smart move to make. Reach out to a shoplifting case attorney in Nashville to build a defense and try to reduce or dismiss your criminal charges.
Shoplifting may seem minor, but it can have some significant penalties. Like other criminal theft charges, a shoplifting conviction can remain on your permanent record and have you labeled as a criminal in the eyes of the law and society.
If you’re charged with a shoplifting charge, it’s important to think about hiring legal representation and challenging the charges in court so that you can potentially get the charges reduced or dismissed. At Raybin & Weissman, P.C., our lawyers are experienced in handling theft crimes of all calibers. A Nashville shoplifting lawyer can work to prove your innocence or convince the judge that you made a mistake.
How is Shoplifting Classified?
Shoplifting differs from other theft crimes because it involves stealing from a business establishment. A crime can be considered shoplifting if:
- An individual conceals merchandise
- Removes the merchandise from the store
- Takes off pricing labels from the merchandise
- Transfers merchandise from one container to another
- Changes the register to reflect less than the originally stated price
While theft requires the state of Tennessee to prove that the thief controlled the stolen object, shoplifting offenses don’t have this same requirement.
Penalties for Shoplifting in Nashville
Penalties for shoplifting in Nashville depend on the property’s value. For property valued at less than $1,000, a shoplifting offense is considered a Class A misdemeanor. If convicted of a Class A misdemeanor, you can spend up to eleven months in jail and pay up to $2,500 in fines.
Shoplifting penalties for property valued between $1,000 and $2,500 will result in a Class E felony. If convicted of a Class E felony, you can spend between one and six years in prison and pay up to $3,000 in fines.
If the property in the shoplifting offense were valued between $2,500 and $10,000, the charge would be a Class D felony. If convicted of a Class D felony, you can spend between two and twelve years in prison and pay up to $5,000 in fines.
As the property value increases, the felony charges increase as well.
Building a Defense Against Shoplifting
As you can see, the penalties for shoplifting in Nashville are severe, and it’s essential to fight these charges if you want to avoid the penalties. Having a criminal misdemeanor or felony on your record can prevent you from getting jobs in the future or living in certain types of housing. Society will label you as a criminal, and you’ll likely find it hard to live a normal life with this mistake following you around.
Your shoplifting lawyer can do what’s possible to convince the judge and the jury to lessen the severity of your charges. They can also investigate your incident and see if they can find flaws in the merchant’s policies or the police arrest procedure. If there’s any way to put reasonable doubt in the jury’s minds, a shoplifting lawyer can be key in making this happen.
Consult a Nashville Shoplifting Attorney
When you get charged with shoplifting, you haven’t yet been convicted. You still have a chance to go to trial and fight your charges. With the help of a Nashville shoplifting lawyer from Raybin & Weissman, P.C., you can rest assured that your case is in good hands. Our shoplifting case attorneys, David Raybin and Ben Raybin, have the experience to help you with your shoplifting case.
To schedule a free consultation, call 615-256-6666 or fill out the contact form below.