Legal Question in Criminal Law in New York

Shoplifting

In a moment of complete stupidity and weakness i was caught for shoplifting this afternoon, I'm a 19 year old college student and I don't want my parents to find out about this and I don't want this on my record forever..THe cop told me to plead not guilty and get a lawyer to help me reduce the charges, but i can't afford a lawyer, will a public defender help me? if i say that i'm supporting myself free from parents (even if this isn't necessarily true)? what kinda proof are they gonna ask for?


Asked on 3/12/01, 7:44 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Joelle Jensen Angiuli, Poznansky Katkin & Gentile

Re: Shoplifting

Dear 19 year old, it is essential that you obtain the services of a qualified criminal attorney to help you handle this matter--even if it means telling your parents in order to obtain the money to pay the attorney's fee.

Depending on the value of the goods shoplifted, you may be facing a felony conviction-- as you may know-- potential employers will forever ask you if you have "ever been convicted of a crime" do not risk this. If you have a clean record, A criminal attorney may be able to have these charges reduced to what we call an ACD or "Adjournment contemplating dismissal" which means that after you make monetary restitution and you stay out of trouble for a year your record will be clean. So please be wise with your future.

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Answered on 5/22/01, 6:50 pm


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