Former Pasadena Prosecutors Now Shoplifting And Petty Theft Defense Lawyers
Since 1987, we have specialized in defending individuals accused of shoplifting and all other theft-related offenses out of the Pasadena Court. Located at 300 E. Walnut Avenue in the city of Pasadena, the Pasadena Court serves as the criminal court for all crimes committed within the city of Pasadena, including several bordering cities, such as Arcadia, Alta Dena, South Pasadena, La Canada Flintridge, San Marino, Sierra Madre, and San Gabriel. If you have been recently arrested or cited for a theft crime, you will have an upcoming arraignment in this court. The consequences for a shoplifting or theft crime conviction can be significant and can have a negative impact on your life even after the case is closed. Therefore, it imperative that you retain a qualified theft defense lawyer with experience dealing with Pasadena Court district attorneys and city prosecutors.
Why Hire Our Criminal Defense Firm?
Whether you have been wrongly accused or simply exercised poor judgment in committing a theft, our law firm’s goals would be the same: Resolving your case at the lowest possible level without a theft-related conviction on your record, either by obtaining a dismissal or charges by way of jury acquittal, diversion, or civil compromise, or reduction to lesser non-theft offenses, such as trespassing or disturbing the peace by way of plea bargain. There are many theft defense lawyers for you to choose from, however, there are very few who can match the experience and expertise we bring to every single one of our cases. Regardless of whether your case involves a serious felony grand theft or a first offense petty theft, you can rest assured we will obtain the best possible outcome for you. Most importantly, when you retain our Pasadena criminal defense firm, you will be represented by either Paul Takakjian or Stephen Sitkoff, not an inexperienced associate or contract lawyer.
What Are The Elements Of Shoplifting And Petty Theft In Pasadena?
Petty theft and shoplifting require certain elements the prosecutor must prove in order to convict you. 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 theft 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 Pasadena
If you have been charged with PC 459.5 – shoplifting or PC 484(a) – Petty Theft, you face a number of potential penalties if convicted, in addition to the long term consequences of a theft-related conviction on your criminal record. The following are some of the penalties you face if charged with 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
Please Contact Us Now For A Free Case Review
If you have been arrested in Pasadena, South Pasadena, Arcadia, Sierra Madre, San Gabriel, San Marino, Alta Dena, or any of the surrounding areas within North East Los Angeles County, please contact us at (626) 628-9185 or toll free at (888) 579-4844 for your free no-obligation consultation. We are available 24/7 with an office conveniently located at 225 South Lake, in the city of Pasadena.
