You have been charged with theft in the fifth degree—what should you do next? The number one thing you should NOT do is simply go into court and plead guilty. Generally, this can be tempting because you may be able to pay a small fine and get out the door without having to pay or do too much. However, what many people forget about is the impact a theft conviction can have on their employment record because theft is considered a crime of dishonesty.
You should contact a theft criminal defense lawyer who can advise you on whether you may be able to get your charge dismissed. Of course, this depends on your circumstances, but if this is your first time being charged with theft in the fifth degree, you may sometimes be able to have the charge dismissed even if there are some facts against you. A theft defense lawyer can help you get involved in classes and/or treatment so that you can work toward getting your theft charge dismissed.
Furthermore, a theft defense attorney can help you pursue having the theft dismissal expunged from your public record.
Simply put, if you are charged with theft, especially theft in the fifth degree, give the Feld Law Firm a call so we can help get you going in the right direction.