Shoplifting

While prosecutors like to act as though anyone accused of shoplifting can be convicted of the crime, there is a lot more to it. Under Texas law, merely leaving a store without paying for something does not mean you stole it. With a strong Dallas criminal attorney on your side you can ensure the prosecution has to work hard to prove your guilt in these cases.

Texas requires the prosecution of anyone accused of shoplifting to show that the defendant actually meant to leave the store without paying for merchandise. If there is no proof of intent or if evidence specifically points to the incident being an accident, you cannot be found guilty of this crime. There are many situations where people put embarrassing products into their pockets or purses with the intent to pay for the item at the register and if you were arrested before you reached the counter or if you merely forgot to pay for the item along with your other merchandise, your Dallas criminal lawyer can show that you did not actually intend to leave without paying for the item. In similar scenarios, many people leave the store with items on the bottom of their cart that they simply forgot to lift up to have scanned at the checkout. This is not a crime.

Our Dallas Criminal Lawyer Will Fight for You

Even if you were undoubtedly attempting to steal an item, you still may be able to fight the accusations due to a number of rights violations that may occur during the arrest process. Many shoplifting arrests are made by store employees or security guards who either use excessive force or illegally search you. If either of these situations apply, your Dallas criminal attorney may be able to have evidence suppressed and even have the case against you dropped.

In some cases, you may not be able to plead innocent, but that does not mean you will be subjected to the full level of punishment when you work with a Dallas criminal lawyer from The Law Offices of Roderick C. White. We will work to negotiate an agreeable plea bargain that will minimize your potential penalties.

Please call our offices today if you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation.