Legal Question in Criminal Law in Georgia

Re: 1st offense shoplifting

Assuming this is your first shoplifting offense and otherwise you do not have a bad or extinsive criminal record, I would think you face only a fine and believe it is likely the court will allow you to plead under the first offender act.

You ought to speak to the prosecutor and ask him what the fine would be and if the judge would allow a first offender plea. If he is opposed to it, you might want to consider getting an attorney to represent you.

Re: 1st offense shoplifting

This is a misdemeanor offense. Provided that you have no prior shoplifting convictions it is not likely that you will be placed in custody as a result of a conviction. You do have the right to represent yourself and the judge may elect to allow you to enter a plea under the first offender act. However it is certainly advisable to hire an attorney to represent you at the hearing. If you are not planning to hire an attorney because you can not afford to hire an attorney then you should ask the judge to appoint a public defender to represent you in this matter. The foregoing is general information only, not specific legal advice. No attorney client relationship has been created or implied.