My question involves criminal law for the state of: Arkansas
First of I'm posting for my sister. This is her second offense, first was a misdemeanor, theft from Wal-Mart. She was banned from Wal Mart and let off fairly easy. This was several years ago.
Now she's being charged with Commercial burglary, Theft by Receiving, And Fraudulent use of a credit card. This happened at Wal mart so there's that.
The situation was this; she was with her boyfriend who found a wallet on the ground, he picked it up and took the cash. They then went to Wal-Mart and used the credit card to purchase 2 gift cards and do some shopping (necessities, not anything outrageous). They were caught later at her home. All the stolen merchandise was recovered. Her bail was set at 3500 and his at 3000. He was also charged for 2 felonies and possession.
Added to that my sister also has 2 misdemeanors (contempt) from failing to appear for her former charges.
Now in all of this her hands never touched the credit card or the wallet. She did not buy anything, she was just a knowing party trespassing onto Wal-Mart.
I think the theft by receiving will stick but the others seemed way out there. She did not use the credit card nor did she steal or intend to steal from Wal-Mart. She was just a knowing party. And the theft by receiving is for $500-$2500 but the total amount of items taken was under $500 and the only things she actually received was maybe $100 worth of groceries and such. I don't know if that would be a lower class felony (they're all class C felonies I believe) or a misdemeanor.
I believe her charges should be something like contempt X 2, trespassing, a lowered theft by receiving, and some kind of accessory to something charge.
We're looking to hire a lawyer and she's got until mid July until she pleads. What is your advice, what kind of punishment is she looking at, and do you think these trumped up charges will be dropped easily? Also would you advise pleading not guilty?
Also possibly noteworthy is that the wallet and card...belonged to a lawyer.

