Cobb County Shoplifting Lawyer

Though some people do not consider shoplifting to be as reprehensible as stealing directly from another person, this is not the case in the eyes of Georgia law. If you’ve been charged with shoplifting, you are most likely facing various legal consequences that can have a permanent effect on your life upon conviction, which is why you cannot afford to proceed without the assistance of a knowledgeable Cobb County shoplifting lawyer. Contact our firm to learn more about how we can help you today.

Do I Need a Cobb County, GA Shoplifting Lawyer?

Our Georgia shoplifting lawyer understands that sometimes people make mistakes, and at other times, they are simply wrongfully accused of making a mistake. No matter your situation, you cannot fight these charges on your own. The Miller Law Group, LLC is here to assist you through every step of the legal process ahead.

How Shoplifting is Defined Under Georgia Law

Shoplifting, as defined under Georgia Code § 16-8-1, et seq., states that when one person, or more than one person takes merchandise from the owner of that merchandise without paying for it, they are shoplifting. All of the following are examples of shoplifting in the eyes of Georgia law:

• Concealing or taking merchandise from any retail establishment without paying for it
• Transferring merchandise in a retail establishment from one container to another
• Changing the contents of a price tag
• Swapping the price tag or label on one piece of merchandise with that of another
• Taking any other action that wrongfully decreases the amount paid on any given item from the initially-stated price of the item in question

Penalties for Shoplifting in Georgia

If you are caught shoplifting in the state of Georgia, you may face a wide array of very serious penalties, including the following:

• Stolen property valued at $500 or less: For stealing property worth $500 or less, you may face a misdemeanor charge, which may entail up to 1 year in jail and a fine.
• Stolen property valued at more than $500: Between 1-10 years in prison and a high fine.
• For stealing property from three different stores in the same county within 3 days: Between 1-10 years in prison and a high fine.

Defenses Against Shoplifting Charges

All those who’ve been charged with shoplifting must hire a seasoned Marietta criminal defense lawyer who can work to disprove their charges, or, at the very least, significantly mitigate the consequences of their charges. Depending on the circumstances of your case, we may employ one of many potential defenses. For example, in certain cases, our firm may prove that you already owned the property that was allegedly stolen. In other cases, we may assert that you did not realize that you were wrongfully taking property that belonged to another person or entity. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding your arrest, our firm is here to defend you.

Contact Our Cobb County, Georgia Shoplifting Lawyer

Shoplifting charges can haunt someone for the rest of their life, which is why if you are currently facing shoplifting charges, you should contact the Miller Law Practice, LLC today to schedule your initial consultation with our firm. We are ready to do everything in our power to help ensure you do not face the potential lifelong consequences of a shoplifting charge.