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Juvenile Shoplifting Defense in Ventura County

You get a phone call out of the blue: your son is being detained for shoplifting. You rush to the store in shock-after all, he's never done anything like this before.

You know he's been feeling a little depressed lately, but you assumed it was teenage blues. His grades have slipped a bit, and he's been hanging out with friends you don't recognize. Is this all it takes for him to turn from a good student into a criminal?

Of course not. The truth is, it may not be entirely his fault: many juvenile offenders face petty theft charges as a result of peer pressure. They believe that the store "won't miss" the item and that it's a crime more about the action than actually needing whatever is stolen. But depending on the amount of property taken, the charges can be severe:

1. Infraction. If it is a first offense and the value of the item taken is less than $50, your child will likely be charged with an infraction, meaning he will pay a fine less than $250.
2. Misdemeanor. If the property taken is valued from $50-$400, your child may be convicted of misdemeanor petty theft and sentenced to up to 6 months in jail and fines up to $1,000.
3. Felony. If this is your child's third Santa Barbara shoplifting offense, he could face a felony conviction that includes a one-year prison sentence.

Unfortunately, petty theft can have serious consequences for your child's future. If you do not request to have his criminal record sealed or expunged when your child turns 18, the information will be freely available to future employers, colleges, and other institutions that will determine your child's professional success.

As experienced Ventura criminal defense attorneys, we know that there is a difference between a minor who commits an offense and a criminal. We are able to communicate this common misunderstanding to a judge, fighting to get the charges against minor offenders dropped. We always argue for minimal sentencing when juvenile clients are facing conviction and work to get their criminal records sealed when they come of age.

If your child is facing a shoplifting charge in Ventura County, call Bamieh & Erickson at (805) 643-5555 for a free consultation.

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