Should You Consult a Lawyer if You May be Charged With Shoplifting
My question involves criminal law for the state of: Washington
I was caught shoplifting at Sephora and I signed a Civil Demand Notice and a Trespass Notice. The LP officer I spoke with said that he will file a report to the DA but will mention that I was cooperative and that I am a college student pursing a competitive major and he said that I will probably not receive a warrant.
Charges are being filed against me but I am not sure if I will be charged.
Is it important for me to seek advice from a criminal lawyer immediately? Especially I want to seek out a diversion program or to see if my charge can be reduced to an infraction?
Re: First Time Offender for Shoplifting in Washington
Quote:
Quoting
Lute64
he said that I will probably not receive a warrant.
So I'm guessing that ^^^^ didn't work out quite the way they thought it would, huh?
Quote:
Quoting
Lute64
Charges are being filed against me but I am not sure if I will be charged.
That sentence makes no sense. If charges are filed, you have been charged. Are you referring to the LP reporting it and you haven't heard anything on it? Whether it will go be picked up and go to trial, we cannot say.
Re: First Time Offender for Shoplifting in Washington
correct. My mistake. Yes, we have no idea it will be picked up but from the conversation, it sounded like it may not be picked up because he said that he will mention my cooperation and my background (student in a competitive major). Does that make a difference to the DA when he is deciding whether this case should go to trial or not?
What can I do before I get a court date to help my situation? Will most lawyer take this case before I have a court date? How much will a lawyer cost? If I can't afford a lawyer, do I have to wait for a court date to seek a public defender?
Re: First Time Offender for Shoplifting in Washington
Dude. Please write in sentences with capital letters and punctuation like they taught you in elementary school.
Your posts are undecipherable.
Your "cooperation" isn't going to mean much and your alleged "competitive" major" is going to mean even less (I don't know what competitive major allows you to not communicate effectively, so you're either being rude to us or you're going to have substantial problems with your studies).
Unless you're facing charges you can go to jail for, you have no rights to a public defender. Further, public defenders are for the indigent who can not pay for their own attorney not some default for people unwilling to pay. Washington has a specific definition of indigent. If you are just short of funds (though not at the poverty level) the public defender may be available on an IOU basis (i.e., you will have to pay it back eventually).
In Washington state, you apply for the PD when you appear in court the first time.