Defending Yourself When Accused of Stealing with the Help of an Attorney

The Importance of a Professional Defense When Accused of Stealing 

Keeping a clean record is very important because you never know when a criminal offense on your record could negatively impact your chances of getting work. Even if you were accused of stealing doesn't mean that you have to accept the decision and allow it to become a permanent part of your record, a local attorney specializing in these cases can help. 

Understanding the Basics of Stealing 

Most people who think of the word stealing immediately associate it with robbing something from a store and being caught on surveillance or by a security personnel. The word stealing does cover store theft, but it also can refer to stealing from a residence, vehicle, or person, as well as receiving stolen goods from another party with the intent to sell. Stolen checks and used to make purchases is yet another form of stealing, all of which carry significant penalties if you accept your fate. Your larceny defense lawyer can help present your case in a way that the charges don't negatively impact you the rest of your life. 

Defending Accusations of Stealing 

The first thing that your larceny defense lawyer will do is to explain to you all the possibilities for defending cases involving stealing. To help you avoid conviction, your attorney is going to show that you did not have the willful intention to permanently deprive the owner of their property. Perhaps you intended on returning the goods, or that you really believed the items in question actually belonged to you. Even taking of the property while under duress is one way your attorney can show the court there was no malicious intent here and that the charges and case against you should be dropped. 

Don't try and go to court and defend yourself on your own, the judge will not appreciate your lack of professionalism in not obtaining the help of a professional and skilled lawyer. There are several defenses your lawyer can utilize to show that this incident was not what it appeared on the surface.