West Covina Shoplifting & Petty Theft Lawyers
If you have been arrested or cited with petty theft or shoplifting charges, you likely have many questions ranging from the impact a theft-related conviction could have on your career or whether you are looking at a jail sentence if you are convicted. These are normal questions most people have when facing a retail theft charge. Although searching for answers online can provide you with some general insight, you need to consult with a qualified theft defense lawyer with experience defending theft charges in West Covina Court in order to get the answers you are seeking. Former LA county senior prosecutors and shoplifting lawyers Paul Takakjian and Stephen Sitkoff have collectively practiced criminal defense law for over 70 plus years with particular expertise in defending all forms of theft-related crimes in West Covina Court, such as:
- 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 conviction, we are prepared to utilize our decades of theft defense experience and relationships with the deputy district attorneys in West Covina Court 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 West Covina?
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 West Covina
If you have been charged with PC 459.5 – shoplifting or PC 484(a) – Petty Theft, you face 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 Can Our West Covina Theft Defense Attorneys Help?
Just because you have been charged with petty theft or shoplifting does not mean there is no hope for a positive outcome. Our West Covina shoplifting lawyers have successfully defended theft-related charges out of Citrus 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 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.
