Legal Question in Criminal Law in Ohio

If the theft charge was completely dismissed then you should be eligible to have the record of that charge sealed (expunged). The issue for the trial court is whether the public's right to know that you were charged (but the charges were later dismissed) outweigh your right to have the record sealed. It is a judgment call for the judge to make. You ae not required to hire an attorney, however, lawyers often are better able to present the issue to the judge than a layperson. Whether to hire the attorney or not depends on your financial circumstances, the history of the case, and how comfortable you are in presenting the issue to the Judge yourself. A $500.00 fee is certainly quite reasonable.