Shoplifting at Walmart in Zachary, Louisiana

Zachary, Louisiana is a small but bubbling city that lies north of the Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It not only has the Zachary Post Office (which is managed by the United States Postal Service) and the library, it also has branches of some of the biggest stores in the world like Walmart.

Where there are stores, shoplifting is almost bound to occur.

Shoplifting means the theft of goods from a store or merchant, without seeking their approval or through fraudulent methods. Although most states in the U.S generally classify shoplifting under larceny, other states have specific legal statutes that address shoplifting and they refer to the crimes through different names like ‘retail theft’ or ‘concealment of merchandise’

In the state of Louisiana, shoplifting is classified under theft of goods.

If you have been charged with shoplifting or you know someone that has, either in or outside Louisiana, the importance of getting a great Zachary shoplifting lawyer cannot be overemphasized. The lawyer must be able to give you the best positive outcome of your case no matter how bad it is.

Carl Barkemeyer is a criminal defense attorney based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His wealth of experience has helped a lot of clients get through their cases successfully. He helps people analyze their cases and presents the best options to them.

Theft

The state government of Louisiana describes theft as taking a valuable item from someone or a store through crooked means or without their approval. The intention is also to keep it away from the owner permanently.

This definition implies that every object can be stolen, so the state has specific penalties for things such as crawfish, pets, alligators, livestock, firearms, explosives, cars, utilities, oil, etc.  

The state government of Louisiana records any form of misappropriation or misdemeanor under theft as well…

How are penalties with regards to theft determined?

It depends on a number of factors. Most times, the court looks at the amount of money stolen. They would not mete out the same penalty to someone who stole $500 to one that stole $5000. If it is an item, they would consider the worth.

They would also look at the person’s criminal history. Has the person been arrested for theft before? If yes, how many times? 

·      If the alleged stolen goods are worth less than $1000 dollars 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 up to 6 months in jail.

·       If the alleged stolen goods are worth $1000 dollars 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 dollars or more, but less than a value of $25,000 dollars, 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 dollars 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.

Can theft be a felony in Zachary?

Oh yes, it can. Statistics have shown that over 70% of people accused of either theft or destruction of property go to prison. Stealing charges are not one that the court can overlook, so the accused may most likely spend some time in jail.

Most times, if the money or value of the good stolen is below $1000, it can be placed under misdemeanor, so you either do not have to spend so much on fine or you spend less time in jail. If it is more than that (and you have probably had previous theft cases), the court can consider it a felony and sentence you to more years in prison.

If you are faced with shoplifting crimes, the thin thread that might save you from spending a portion of your life in jail is a good criminal defense attorney, one with experience and vast knowledge about how legal procedures in cases like this work. Carl Barkemeyer has a wealth of experience that even goes beyond theft cases.  Even if you think that there is nothing that can be done, he will help you salvage whatever is left and give you the best possible outcome.

Theft of goods

Theft of goods, where shoplifting falls under, means the theft or misappropriation of merchandise from the merchant or store through fraudulent acts or without permission from the right authorities. Before someone can be charged with shoplifting charges, the intention to steal must be made known. The court can see evidence of intention through the following ways:

a.     Consuming or damaging goods meant for sale, thereby making them unsellable

b.     Intentionally hiding goods that are meant for sale

c.      Transferring goods from one container to another in a bid to deceive the cashier and avert full payment of the merchandise

d.     Altering the price of goods on their tags

e.     Removing the price tag from an item to deceive the merchant on the real retail price

f.      Consciously using the cash register or any other sales recording medium to change the price of goods

Shoplifting Lawyer in Zachary, Louisiana

The accused does not necessarily have to lift the goods out of the Walmart before it can be classified as an offense. If he/she does any of the above, the evidence is clear. In cases like this, one needs a shoplifting lawyer that can adequately represent him/her in court. The Barkemeyer Law Firm are shoplifting defense lawyers in Louisiana that can help you regardless of what city you received the charge. Visit our locations page for our nearest office. We will present the best options pertaining to your case and help you get the best out of your situation.

Baton Rouge

7732 Goodwood Blvd. #A Baton Rouge, LA 70806
225-964-6720