Benefits of Hiring a Maryland Theft Attorney

Any time someone is facing criminal charges and a potential criminal conviction, there could be serious consequences. The benefits of hiring a Maryland theft attorney are numerous, and everyone deserves to get the opinion of a qualified lawyer. Reach out to a capable theft lawyer to begin working towards a positive resolution to your case.

Importance of Hiring a Lawyer

If a person is charged with theft, they should consider hiring a criminal lawyer because theft is a serious crime. Depending on the value of the property, goods, or services involved, a person could go to prison for up to 15 years and have a felony conviction. Even if the value is small and it is a misdemeanor charge, a conviction will still have serious consequences. Even if the person is likely not going to face jail time, a conviction will stay on their record, and in Maryland, it may not be expunged.

Once a person is found guilty, the guilty conviction on their record is going to follow them for the rest of their life. Any time they apply to a job or an agency conducts a background check, there is going to be a conviction of theft. An attorney could perhaps negotiate for a deferred sentence, probation before judgment, or raise to put the case on the stet docket. These actions could potentially result in the case not being on the record at some point in the future.

Even if one thinks the evidence may be against them and there is no way to get out of the charge, hiring a Maryland theft lawyer has benefits. A skilled attorney would know if there are other options available, what those options are, and the most effective ways to try to achieve those results. After a period of time, they could walk away with a clean record.

Negotiating Armed Robbery Down to Theft

One of the benefits of hiring a Maryland theft lawyer is that a defense lawyer can try to negotiate with prosecutors. Because theft is included within the charge of armed robbery, the facts may allow, support, or make it easier for a defense attorney to negotiate it down to a theft charge. Sometimes the allegations and the evidence may be strong for the elements of the theft charge, but they may be weaker for the extra element that takes the case to armed robbery. The presence of a weapon may be in dispute, or the evidence for the use of force may be weaker. In that case, the state may be willing to offer a plea to theft.

Plea Deals in Maryland

The defendant may want to take a plea to theft because it eliminates the risk of a robbery or armed robbery conviction. If the victim was not harmed, or there are other mitigating circumstances, the defense attorney could argue for compromise, which is what a plea deal should be. If a plea offer is to an armed robbery charge, there is not much incentive that the defendant would take that. The risk of going to trial is an armed robbery conviction, so there is not much incentive to take a plea for the more serious penalty.

If there are mitigating circumstances, like if the person is a dedicated member of the community or has a lot of family support, the state may be willing to offer a plea as a compromise. The person may still have to serve time in jail, but since the charge is not armed robbery, the penalties are less severe. It could be a compromise that both sides could agree on.

Let a Qualified Maryland Defense Attorney Represent You

If you were charged with theft, you deserve the benefits of hiring a Maryland theft attorney. Theft, robbery, and armed robbery convictions all carry serious consequences, so you should not risk appearing in court alone or making a deal you may regret. A knowledgeable attorney could help you weigh your options and make the best decision for your future.