Santa Ana Shoplifting Defense Attorney

Charged with Shoplifting?

Any time a person steals something from a store, it is considered to be shoplifting. Although shoplifting is popularly considered to be a less serious type of theft crime, it can still bring about harsh consequences that could negatively affect your life. At Aguilar & Sonnonstine, APC, we are fully capable of handling your case if you've been arrested and charged with shoplifting in Santa Ana or anywhere in Orange County. Handling petty theft offenses like shoplifting requires a strong foundation of legal knowledge and a good understanding of California theft laws, and we have both.

Even if a person doesn't actually take merchandise out of a store they can still be charged with petty theft if it can be proved that they intended to remove the item from the store property. It is not uncommon for a store owner, manager or sales associate to notice "suspicious behavior," which could make it look like a person intended to steal something when in reality, they did not. In cases such as these, we will attempt to show the judge or jury that the intent was simply not there by any means necessary.  

Lawyer Handling Petty Theft Charges in Santa Ana

Sometimes when an individual is charged with petty theft or shoplifting they do not want to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation so they don't call a Santa Ana criminal defense lawyer for help. As many of these people find out, this is a huge mistake that could end up costing a great deal later down the road. Petty theft is most often charged as a misdemeanor if the value of the property stolen doesn't exceed $400 and being convicted of this offense could mean jail time, fines or both. A second, third, or subsequent petty theft charge could even be considered a felony, which will result in even harsher penalties if conviction occurs so it is vital to take action by calling an attorney at our firm for help as soon as possible.

Charged with petty theft? Contact a Santa Ana shoplifting defense lawyer for help today!