It’s Not “Just” Shoplifting.
You got caught shoplifting. It's embarrassing. You just want to pay a fine and make it go away. The store's security guard and even the prosecutor might say, "Just plead guilty. It's a small fine."
This is a terrible trap. A "small" theft conviction on your record is forever.
● It can stop you from getting a job. (Think about the box you have to check: "Have you ever been convicted of a crime of theft or dishonesty?")
● It can stop you from getting an apartment.
● It can be used to make any future charge much, much worse.
Here's a fact: The Bureau of Justice Statistics says about 94% of all state felony convictions come from a guilty plea, not a trial. People take deals because they are scared. Don't be scared into a "deal" that will haunt you for the rest of your life. Even for a "small" charge, call a lawyer.
