| Retail Theft |
If you have been charged with Retail Theft, you may be facing charges of a misdemeanor or felony based upon your criminal background and the amount of goods that was alleged to have been stolen. If you have been charged with Retail Theft for the first time and the retail value is less than $300, you will be charged with a Class A misdemeanor. In some courthouses, an experienced criminal defense attorney may be able to negotiate that you complete a theft deterrent educational program. If the program is successfully completed, the charges are dismissed and your arrest can be expunged. Other types of dispositions on a Class A misdemeanor include supervision, conditional discharge and probation. A sentence to supervision will not result in a conviction if your supervision is completed satisfactorily but your arrest cannot be expunged until five (5) years after your supervision is terminated satisfactorily. Additionally, if sentenced to supervision on the offense of retail theft, supervision would not be an available option if you were ever charged again with retail theft. For those reasons, the assistance of a competent criminal defense attorney is needed to ensure that all defenses are addressed and that your case is dismissed.
If you have been charged with Retail Theft and the retail value exceeds $300, you be charged with a Class 3 Felony with a possible jail sentence of two (2) to five (5) years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. The charge of Retail Theft can also be upgraded to a Class 4 Felony if you have been previously been convicted of any theft offense or other financial crimes even if the retail value is below $300.
The Law Offices of Steven J. Block and Associates frequently represent individuals charged with Retail Theft in Cook, Lake, and Dupage Counties. Contact us for a free consultation and we will inform you how we can properly defend your case.
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