Idaho Theft Crimes | Shoplifting
Idaho Shoplifting Lawyers | Boise Shoplifting Attorneys | Idaho Shoplifting Law
Idaho Shoplifting
Illegally taking property from a store or retail shop.
As "Shoplifting" is not its own separate offense in Idaho, often times shoplifting is charged as one of the following crimes:
- Petty Theft,
- Willful Concealment,
- Commercial Burglary,
- Grand Theft (if the items are worth over $1000), or
- Burglary (If there is evidence that you entered the store with the specific intent to commit a theft crime therein).
If you were arrested or cited for shoplifting, it is important to know which crime you are charged with and what that means for you.
*For a full understanding on the differences, take a look at the Idaho code: §18-2407 (Grading Theft); §18-2406 (Defenses); §18-2408 (Punishment); §18-1401-06 (Burglary).
"It's Just Shoplifting"
While some people believe shoplifting is "no big deal", this is far from the truth. it is vitally important that you do not just plead guilty thinking that nothing serious is likely to happen.
For Petty (Petit) Theft in Idaho you could face fines up to $1,000 and a year imprisonment in county jail. For Willful Concealment up to a $1000.00 fine and six (6) months in county jail. While not as severe as the consequences associated with Burglary or Grand Theft, they should not be taken lightly.
However, the punishment assigned by the court is just the beginning...
A Shoplifting conviction can have serious short and long term consequences beyond those punishments ordered by the court, potentially affecting your employment, personal relationships, and reputation.Theft is considered a "crime of moral turpitude" and can have a severe impact on many areas of your life.
A conviction can be particularly harmful in terms of:
- Maintaining current employment,
- Gaining future employment,
- State licensing,
- Obtaining professional licenses and certifications,
- Federal Student Loans for education,
- and other benefits.
The conviction will appear on any background checks and employers tend to pass on applicants with theft records, fearing them to be dishonest and having the potential to steal from their companies.
Fight Your Idaho Shoplifting Charge
Do not let a theft conviction follow you around for the rest of your life. Let us fight to keep you out of jail and keep a theft conviction off your record.
An experienced Idaho theft crimes attorney can fight the charge and keep it off your record. Every theft case is different and the attorneys at Schofield and Young scrutinize the facts of every case to see if the prosecutor really has enough evidence to prove you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If not, we can challenge the evidence in court, get the case dropped, or win the case at trial. Even if the evidence is overwhelming, we can fight to try and get the charge reduced or limit the punishment to community service and/or probation.
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