The short answer is, if you have been arrested for shoplifting, you should care. In this digitally connected age, where pretty much everything about you is online for someone to find, a criminal conviction can be an impediment to achieving the future you want. That includes convictions for crimes you might consider “minor.” Shoplifting in Texas is not necessarily a “minor” crime. That includes both legal consequences and reputational damage that could hurt you down the road – after all, Texas is definitely not California when it comes to shoplifting. You can go to jail in Texas for shoplifting merchandise of a value that would not even get you arrested in California. And with Texas’ reputation as a law-and-order state, do you really want to bet that an employer would hire someone with a shoplifting conviction over someone equally qualified but without one?
Shoplifting Can Carry Serious Penalties in Texas
Shoplifting under Texas law is simply a category of theft. In many cases, shoplifting qualifies as a “minor” crime. If you are charged with shoplifting goods valued at less than $100, the crime is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of no more than $500. But shoplifting becomes a Class B misdemeanor when the property is worth more than $100 but less than $750, meaning the penalties go up to a fine of no more than $2,000, a jail term of up to 180 days, or both. The same applies even if the value of the property stolen is less than $100 but you have a prior conviction for theft, including shoplifting. For property valued at more than $750 but less than $2,500, shoplifting becomes a Class A misdemeanor, which can be punished with up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000, or both. And for property worth at least $2,500 but less than $30,000, shoplifting is a state jail felony. Conviction can be punished by at least 180 days in jail but no more than two years, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. The price tag matters a lot even when you do not plan to pay for the goods.
Those are just the legal consequences. Social consequences can be just as damaging, and ultimately much more long-lasting. Any potential employer can access your criminal conviction record. So can landlords or even potential dating partners. That record never goes away, and neither does the ability of other people to access that record. It can, and will, follow you forever. Maybe it will not make a big difference in your life. But maybe it will.
If You are Charged With Shoplifting in Houston, Talk to Madrid Law Firm
Shoplifting might seem like it is not a big deal as a criminal matter, but that really is not true. In addition to the criminal record and the harm that can do, you can find yourself behind bars if convicted for shoplifting. You should take steps to avoid being convicted, or at least minimize the charges and consequences. For that you need an experienced criminal attorney. You should talk to the Madrid Law Firm.
