Former Sr. Prosecutors Now Burbank Shoplifting And Petty Theft Defense Lawyers
Did you pocket a watch? Rip the tags off of a shirt and put it in your bag? Are you facing petty theft or shoplifting charges? Shoplifting and other forms of petty theft carry consequences that many do not consider until after they have been charged. Although most petty theft/shoplifting cases are charged as misdemeanors, such convictions still result in criminal records that can negatively impact future and current employment opportunities, in addition to negatively impacting citizenship eligibility and professional licensing. For almost 3 decades, former LA county senior prosecutors Eugene Hanrahan and Stephen Sitkoff have in criminal defense law with particular expertise in defending all forms of theft related crimes in Burbank Court, including:
- PC 459.5 – Shoplifting
- PC 484(a) – Petty Theft
- PC 487(a) – Grand Theft
- PC 459 – Residential (1st Degree) and Commercial Burglary(2nd Degree)
- PC 496 – Receiving Stolen Property
- PC 666 – Petty Theft with Prior
Whether you are facing a 1st offense petty theft misdemeanor or a felony grand theft shoplifting, we are prepared to utilize our decades of theft defense experience and relationships with Burbank City Prosecutors to tirelessly advocate for a dismissal or reduction of your shoplifting and petty theft charges.
What Are The Elements Of Shoplifting And Petty Theft In Burbank?
There are elements of an act of theft that must be met in order for it to be considered petty theft or shoplifting. The following is a breakdown of each of the two offenses:
- Petty Theft – The amount of the theft must be under $950 in value and it must be proven that you took the item(s) with intent to permanently deprive the owner of the item(s).
- Shoplifting – The amount of the must be under $950 in value and the theft must have been committed in a retail store during normal business hours. It too must be proven that you shoplifted the item(s) with intent to permanently deprive the store of the item(s).
Penalties For Shoplifting And Petty Theft In Burbank
If you have been charged with PC 459.5 – shoplifting or PC 484(a) – Petty Theft, you face a certain penalties if convicted, in addition to the collateral consequences of a theft-related conviction on your criminal record. The following are some of the penalties you face if charged with either shoplifting or petty theft:
- Summary (unsupervised) probation up to 3 years
- Up to $1,000 fine
- Up to 6 months in LA County Jail
- Community service or labor
- Restitution
- Criminal record
How Our Burbank Theft Defense Attorneys Can Help?
Just because you have been charged with petty theft or shoplifting does not mean there is no hope for a positive outcome. Our criminal defense lawyers have successfully defended theft-related charges out of Burbank Court for nearly 3 decades relying on our advanced knowledge of California criminal procedure and the California evidence code. However, the majority of petty theft and shoplifting cases involve good people with no prior criminal records who simply exercised poor judgment and acted out of character. Depending on your case’s unique circumstances, a reduction to a lesser non-theft charge, such as PC 415 – disturbing the peace or PC 602 – trespassing, could be negotiated with Burbank City prosecutors. Additionally, a dismissal of all charges through diversion or deferred entry of judgment (DEJ) could also be a potential outcome. Call us now at (888) 579-4844 for a free confidential consultation, so we can provide you with a thorough analysis and review of your case and options.
