Kenner and Metairie are both cities in Louisiana. And, both are among the largest cities in Jefferson Parish. Just like every other state, Louisiana has rules that are meant to be followed by its citizens and failure to adhere to these rules will breed serious penalties for the offender. Shoplifting is of the serious offenses in Kenner and Metairie.
Shoplifting can be described as the act of stealing or lifting goods from a shop like Target or Walmart without considering to pay for it. Shoplifters are often identified by their facial expressions, body language, and mannerisms. Shoplifting is regarded as theft and it's usually the most common kind of theft charge in Louisiana. Theft can simply be referred to as, the act of trying to acquire that which isn't yours, through illegal means.
People who get caught in this act will be made to appear in court and would be needing the services of a skilled theft lawyer before they can get out of the police net.
Now, some people are often careless and as a result of this, can forget to pay up after shopping. This could lead to Walmart accusing them of shoplifting without them having proper evidence to defend themselves. Shoplifting charges can destroy a person's employment chances and reputation.
In the case that you were accused and arrested for shoplifting, it's often difficult trying to prove your innocence and that is where a lawyer who knows and understands his onion comes in. Solving shoplifting cases are often tactical and always hard on the accused.
It's important to note that, Carl Barkemeyer is the lawyer you should be talking to if you are being accused and charged for shoplifting. Carl Barkemeyer is a Louisiana criminal defense attorney who has garnered enough experience since his 17 years of practice in criminal defense. He stands in for people charged for shoplifting in Kenner and Metairie. He defends clients charged for criminal offenses shoplifting at Walmart and Target in all areas of Louisiana. He lets you understand the charges against you, informs you of facts, and guide you every step of the way.
In Louisiana, shoplifting at Walmart is categorized as the theft of goods. what happens when a person gets to acquire a valuable substance from a seller through fraudulent means, with the sole intent of denying the seller of his/her ownership of the said substance.
If a person tries to participate in activities that involve:
He/she could be summons for theft and can be charged severely.
Anyone can be charged for Shoplifting in Louisiana. Shoplifting might have occurred in Walmart, Target, and Belk. But you might not need to worry too much so long as you have a lawyer that can position the defenses in your favor when you appear in a court of law.
Shoplifting at Walmart and other stores is a criminal and civil offense in Louisiana and they both attract serious penalties.
· If the alleged stolen goods are worth less than $1000 with no prior shoplifting convictions: If a person steals goods worth less than $1000 and has no previous shoplifting history, he/she may either pay a fine of $1000 and/or spend 6 months in jail.
· If the alleged stolen goods are worth $1000 or more but less than $5000 with no prior shoplifting case: if a person shoplifts goods worth $1000 or more but less than $5000 and has had no prior shoplifting cases, he/she may be looking at either pay a fine of $1000 and/or spend up to two years in jail. This is a felony.
· When the alleged value of goods amounts to a value of $5000 or more, but less than a value of $25,000, the offender shall be imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than 10 years, or may be fined not more than ten thousand dollars, or both.
· If the alleged goods amount to a value of $25,000 or more, the defendant shall be imprisoned at hard labor for not more than 20 years, or may be fined not more than fifty thousand dollars, or both.
· If the amount is less than $1000 but the defendant has two prior theft convictions, the third becomes a felony punishable by two years in prison.
· Value is added up: When there has been a misappropriation or taking by a multiple separate acts of the defendant, the total of the amount of the thefts shall determine the grade of the offense.
Asides facing criminal penalties, a seller or owner of a shop can sue a shoplifter in a civil court. Civil court ensures that the offender pays a certain fine to atone for their mistakes. This will help the merchant to recover what they have lost in the process of the shoplifting at Target. If the accused doesn't pay for the damages he/she has incurred, they would be made to face other serious charges.
Plea Bargaining is also a means of reducing charges of an offender. Here, the accused agrees to the offense he's been charged and pleads with the court or prosecutor, to reduce charges for him or her. Shoplifters sometimes apply this means as this can help them get a lesser punishment. There are three types of plea bargaining and they include: charge bargaining, sentence bargaining and fact bargaining.
Sometimes, there are always strong pieces of evidence against an offender at Walmart that can come in form of video footage, eye witness reports (from the store employees or buyers that were present) or even clear evidence of concealment of merchandise. In this case, it's always harder for offenders to plead "not guilty" in court.
So, what to do in this situation (where you have you have accused or prosecuted for stealing in Louisiana) is to, contact Carl Barkemeyer, criminal defense attorney. He is ever ready to help you.
Mr. Carl Barkemeyer is here to walk you through the process of defense from the time you contact him to the time you are done with your court proceedings. He works to minimize your penalties, reduce your charges and helps to protect your reputation and record.
Contact him on: (225) 964-6720 or simply email him.
H. Taylor - Baton Rouge, Louisiana