Caught Price Tag Changing In Virginia

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Virginia

I was caught by LP for changing a price tag on a luggage and buying the item. The price of the item was $80 and i placed a tag for $34 on it and purchased the item and was about to leave the store and LP told me to come in the back. Police were called and I was charged with petty larceny and have to appear in court twice. First i have to appear on Monday June 9th and then July 14th. The store has video tape of me which the police looked at before charging me.

This is my first offense of any kind and i was very foolish to do anything like this.

I need to know

Should I hire a lawyer even though I plan to plead guilty since they have the video tape?

What i should do on Monday in court?

How this will affect my immigration status? (Legal Resident at the Moment)

What could be the possible outcome of the case with above info in mind?

Any help is appreciated.

Anyone with any information or previous experience please help.

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Should I hire a lawyer even though I plan to plead guilty since they have the video tape?

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Yes

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What i should do on Monday in court?

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Ask your Attorney

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How this will affect my immigration status? (Legal Resident at the Moment)

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Ask your Attorney be sure he/she is familar with imigration law

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What could be the possible outcome of the case with above info in mind?

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Ask your Attorney

There are dozens, probably hundreds of threads in the forum answering essentially this same question.

The immigration consequences of your crime depend upon the charge and disposition. Work with your lawyer for the best possible outcome.

Well i contacted a lawyer and here what she told me.

The charge for her service would only be half her regular fee of $1500 because i have no other prior offense.

I should plead guilty on Monday and ask the judge to please be Lenient since it was first time and it will never happen again.

If the judge accept the plea then accept the sentence making sure if Jail sentence is waived it is less than 6 month so it doesn't affect immigration issue.

If judge sentence me on Monday then I'm done long as no major punishment otherwise call her again on Monday and i can hire her.

She did answer few of my question but doesn't really seem she would be able to do anything else to help the case. As i said before i was planning to enter guilty plea so i can get this over with. She suggested the same thing.

The lawyer is going to charge you $1,500 to allow you to walk into court, plead guilty, and beg for leniency? What exactly would the lawyer be doing to justify the fee?

Sorry about the confusion.

The lawyer would charge me half of $1500 so $750 if i decide to hire her.

Since i have the court date on Monday she told me to plead guilty and make a deal if possible. If not then call her after Monday court and hire her and she would help me with the case.

It would be unwise to deal with DA yourself

I spoke to lawyer regardging the plea agreement and she said if they cannot offer you something in my favor then tell them you want a attorney and then i can hire her.

Since this was a first offense she said their is good chance they will make a deal with me to avoid taking up there time for something small as this.

Your not paying attention! Since you know nothing about the law or what is and is not a "good" deal, dealing with DA yourself is not wise!

Well i just went to Pre-trial today and this is what happen.

My time was at 10:30AM so i went around 9:00AM so i could speak with the DA handling my case. When i got to the courthouse i did not know where to go so i asked the guy at security and he told me courtroom E. I went to E but it was locked so i thought he might have told me wrong court so i saw a officer passing by so i asked him and also asked him about seeing a DA and my immigration situation. The officer was extremely helpful with my case. First he took me to DA offices and found out who was handling my case and then spoke to him regarding my case and if anything could be done. He also gave me his name and DA's name and contact information. The officer must have done a good job because when i finally got to speak to DA he said he would work with me. He said since this was a small issue and first offense the judge will most likely make a take a shoplifting class. DA also said he would consider the immigration issue when he works with my case and told me to stay out of trouble and he'll see me in court.

I have a question regarding what happens next.

Will the DA contact me to tell me what kind of deal he has for me or will i find out about a deal at court in front of a judge?

I have read here that DA usually works out a deal for cases like this so it doesn't go to trial.

Why are you talking to DA without an Attorney present!?:wallbang:

3 of us have replied to your thread all three mention talking to a Lawyer. No one suggested talking to DA yourself in fact I advised you against it. Yet here you are again asking question I will presume you have no intent of listening to again!:rolleyes:

I am listening to the advise i am receiving here.

I spoke to a lawyer already and she's the one who told me to speak with DA regarding the effect this case might have on my immigration status. Shes the one who told me to plead guilty since they have me on tape and ask the judge/DA to be lenient since this was my first offense.

I did not speak to DA regarding anything else i just mention the immigration issue and he said he'll work with me.

When i spoke with the lawyer first time i explained what had happened and she told me the best thing for me to do was plead guilty and see if i can work something else with the DA. So that what i did.

If you think i was told wrong information can i still hire a lawyer even if i said i will not hire a lawyer at Pre-trial today?

Was this Lawyer you talked being paid by you? If not he does not have your best interest in mind and in my view gave you real bad advice! If your a Hen are you going to walk up to the Fox? No your not but thats just what you did. Furthermore plead guilty!? No plea bargain no nothing thats insane! That lawyer you talked to was out to get you in my view. Long as you hav eno plead out and there has been no verdict you may still hire an Attorney

I did not make any agreements with the DA. I only spoke to him for about 5 minutes.

I'll call other lawyers tomorrow. Anyone know any lawyers that they have used in this kind of case. I am in Richmond, VA.

By the way can plea agreements be made without getting a lawyer involved, Directly with a DA and how? (I know its not a good idea but i just wanted to know)


Thanks for quick replies.

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Quoting Illidan

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I did not make any agreements with the DA. I only spoke to him for about 5 minutes.

I'll call other lawyers tomorrow. Anyone know any lawyers that they have used in this kind of case. I am in Richmond, VA.

By the way can plea agreements be made without getting a lawyer involved, Directly with a DA and how? (I know its not a good idea but i just wanted to know)


Thanks for quick replies.

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You dont listen do you? Yes but its very unwise!

I am just trying to get this done soon as possible and cheap as possible but i will not take a chance so i'll hire a lawyer tomorrow.

Quick and cheap may not (probably will not) net the results you want