What can I do if my friend was shoplifting and I am being charged? 41 Answers as of August 31, 2011

Get an attorney and fight the charge.

You need to retain criminal defense counsel, which is what we do.

You should be able to put forth a solid defense. However, I would caution you that attempting to do too much to soon may create more problems for both of you. As such, I suggest you exercise your right to remain silent while you seek legal representation via public or private counsel. I hope this was helpful.

I suspect law enforcement believes you were acting as an accomplice. If you are indigent, I suggest you screen for a public defender as soon as you are formally charged. Otherwise a lot of criminal defense lawyers will give a free initial consultation.

August 24, 2011 I suggest that you plead not guilty and hire an attorney to represent you. A conviction for shoplifting is a permanent record and involves a crime of moral turpitude.

You need a good certified criminal law specialist to represent you.

If you are being charged for a crime you did not commit, then you need to hire an attorney. They will have to offer some proof in order to substantiate a conviction. Do not plead guilty to anything or accept any kind of deals without consulting with an attorney.

Hire an experience and skilled attorney; hire me.

Hire a lawyer. The authorities are unlikely to take your word that you were not in on the theft with your friend. A lawyer can provide the assistance you will need to deal with this situation.

The state has already decided it doesn't believe your story, so you need to hire an attorney to defend you.

Get an attorney and fight the charges. Did your friend plead guilty. If so then the attorney can subpoena them in for trial.

You need to hire a lawyer. You are being charged as a party to her offense. In Texas, this is the same as being charged as the primary actor. What it means is that they are saying that you aided and abetted (acted as a lookout, etc. so that she could do the act.) If you did not know she was stealing or you had ZERO to do with it, then you are not guilty and need to go to trial.

Fight it. You cannot be found guilty unless use either did the crime or you were an accomplice in that you encouraged, promoted, facilitated etc. the crime. Mere presence is not enough.

Hire a lawyer before you do something stupid, like incriminate yourself further and/or pay them fines thinking that will get you off.

You should hire an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney you should request the services of the public defender.

This happens all the time and the DA will prosecute both of you and claim you were "conspiring" together to steal the merchandise. Of course, you need an experienced criminal defense law firm to help you. You do not want a theft crime on your record as it will impact your ability to gain employment in the future.

You should retain a criminal attorney to represent you. If you watched her conceal items then you are just as guilty as she is of Petty Larceny. You are guilty as an accomplice and you will probably be given an ACD dismissal and have no record. If you did not see her take $300 worth of merchandise or help her in any way then you are not guilty and should proceed to trial and hopefully be acquitted. The video surveillance will provide evidence of what you did and saw, make sure your attorney checks to see if it is available and gets a copy before it is erased.

Hire an attorney to represent you. I have handled many of these cases and I can help you if you are in my area.

You were likely arrested because law enforcement thought you aided your friend and were therefore an accomplice to your friend's crime. Accomplices are equally liable at law. if you did not aid or assist your friend in any way, plead not guilty and fight the case.

Get a lawyer and face the charges. If you have no record, you should be ok.

If you didn't do anything to aid her in committing the theft then you have a defense. Retain an attorney.

If there is evidence that you were assisting your friend in the theft, you could be convicted. Get a good lawyer.

Fight it. Maybe your "friend" will tell the truth and that would make it all so easy then.

Hire the best lawyer you can afford a nd let them defend you.

Hire a very good attorney and avoid your "friend".

Get a lawyer from your area and fight this. The prosecution can only win if they can prove that you were an accessory, such as a lookout.

Hire an attorney. For whoever is facing charges. You'll learn the actual charge[s] filed against you when you appear for arraignment at your first court hearing. The prosecutor can amend at any time he feels he can prove additional or different charges. They frequently charge all participants with conspiracy and felony burglary when two or more people are involved. Of course you can fight the charges. When arrested or charged with any crime, the proper questions are, can any evidence obtained in a test, search or confession be used against you, and can you be convicted, and what can you do? Raise all possible defenses with whatever admissible and credible witnesses, evidence, facts and sympathies are available for legal arguments, for evidence suppression or other motions, or at trial. If you don't know how to do these things effectively, then hire an attorney that does, who will try to get a dismissal, diversion, reduction or other decent outcome through plea bargain, or take it to trial if appropriate.

You need to fight the case. The state needs to prove that you aided, assisted, acted as a look out or helped in allowing the theft to occur. It requires proof that you had knowledge of what your friend was doing.

Plead not guilty. The prosecution will have to prove you were involved by participating in the theft. Mere presence is not enough.

Under Minnesota law, a person who is present when an offense is committed can be charged with the same offense or aiding and abetting that offense. However, if you had no knowledge of the other person's plans/actions, and did not participate in any way, you would have a viable defense. Make sure you provide a copy of your receipt to the prosecutor at court.