If you are charged with theft, it can have a significant negative impact on your life. A conviction can result in incarceration, a criminal record, fines, or an order to pay restitution to the victim. It may be extremely challenging to find employment, obtain housing, or get into college with this on your record.
If you are facing a theft charge, you must seek the advice of an experienced criminal defense attorney who will work with you in building a solid defense.
Theft Charges Defenses
A skilled criminal defense attorney will carefully evaluate a case before developing a persuasive defense plan. Since every situation is unique, an attorney must analyze the facts before deciding whether one of the following may constitute a solid defense strategy.
- Mistaken Identity. The argument of mistaken identity involves proving that the defendant was not the person who committed the crime but was instead mistaken for another person. Witnesses may have mistakenly identified a suspect, or security video may have been analyzed improperly. If you have an alibi, mistaken identification may be a credible defense in your case.
- Lack of Intent. Another common defense is to argue that the defendant had no intent to commit a crime. This may involve proving that you had sound reason to believe that you had permission to take the property.
- Duress or Coercion. In examining the circumstances, your attorney may find a basis toargue that you were coerced. This argument states that the defendant was forced into committing the act of theft against their will, perhaps due to the threat of violence or blackmail.
- Mishandling by Law Enforcement. If your defense attorney finds that the officer failed to read you your rights, the case was improperly documented, evidence was incorrectly collected, or there were other flaws in the way your case was initially processed, the charges may be dropped.
- Getting Charges Reduced. Another common strategy is to try and reduce the severity of the charge. Your defense attorney can do this by proving that the value of the stolen goods was much lower than initially reported or that no violence occurred in carrying out the theft.
Before a case goes to trial, prosecutors are often prepared to negotiate. In exchange for having the more serious allegations dropped, the defendant agrees to plead guilty to a reduced charge (with reduced consequences) than the one that was initially filed against them.
Contact an Attorney Licensed in Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey
Do not risk your future by trying to handle a theft charge on your own. Get expert legal help from The Brookman Law Group so you can get on the path to putting this situation behind you. We are dedicated to defending your rights using the perseverance, expertise, and talent needed to achieve the best results. Contact us at (267) 566-5598 for a risk-free initial consultation.
We target Philadelphia, PA; Camden, NJ; Gloucester City, NJ; Chester, PA; Darby, PA; and the other surrounding communities.