If You have been Arrested for a Theft Crime in Springfield, IL, or Central Illinois, Contact the Criminal Defense Attorneys at the Noll Law Office Today.
Theft charges encompass several criminal offenses which relate to the stealing of property, the forceful taking of property, or deceptive practices. Even relatively minor offenses, such as misdemeanor retail theft, can have major consequences outside of the potential for jail time and fines. Employers, schools, and universities can learn about theft charges which can adversely affect your job or schooling. If you are charged with a theft crime, you need an experienced criminal defense lawyer who can objectively examine the evidence and discuss your factual and legal defenses.
The authorities seek criminal convictions, large restitution amounts, and prison sentences when they prosecute theft cases. It takes aggressive defense strategies and effective advocacy to properly represent you in court. The criminal defense lawyers at the Noll Law Office have successfully defended felony and misdemeanor retail theft charges, fraud cases, robbery cases, burglary charges, and all other theft charges in Springfield, Illinois, and throughout Central Illinois. No matter what theft crime you are facing, the criminal defense lawyers at the Noll Law Office have the experience, skills, and resources required to handle any case.
I Have Never Been in Trouble and Got Arrested for Retail Theft. What Do I Do?
Getting arrested and charged with a crime is a stressful and embarrassing experience. Often, people do not know what to do, where to go, or how to help themselves. Retail theft is an all-too-common occurrence in Springfield. Local retail establishments like Walmart and Scheels have complicated video surveillance systems and even have employees “undercover” roaming through the store.
Retail establishments and prosecutors aggressively prosecutor these cases – even where the conduct was accidental. For example, the Noll Law Office has successfully defended its fair share of people who were charged with retail theft when they accidentally forgot to scan items in the self-checkout lane.
Other times, individuals make a mistake. Whether they did something stupid or were stealing to support their drug habit, the Noll Law Office can still help. Just because the State can prove a person guilty of the offense doesn’t mean that is necessarily in the best interest of everyone involved. The Noll Law Office brings a practical, commonsense approach to criminal defense work which can provide tremendous benefits to their clients.
Regardless of your situation, it is important to have a criminal defense attorney who will:
- Meet with you and discuss your case;
- Consider creative solutions to prevent charges from being filed or preventing a conviction from entering your criminal record;
- Speak to the prosecutor to explain what happened and why;
- Try and limit the consequences of your arrest so this incident doesn’t haunt you forever.
What Types of Theft Charges does the Noll Law Office Handle?
Over the years, the Noll Law Office has handled a wide variety of theft charges. They represent clients on all types of theft allegations in Springfield, Illinois, including, but not limited to:
- Aggravated Robbery
- Armed Robbery
- Burglary
- Counterfeiting
- Deceptive Practices (Bad Checks)
- Embezzlement
- Federal and State Fraud (Bank Fraud, Mail Fraud, and Wire Fraud)
- Fraud Charges
- Forgery
- Money Laundering
- Residential Burglary
- Retail Theft/Shoplifting
- Robbery
- Theft
If you are charged with a theft crime, hiring an experienced criminal defense lawyer is the best way to ensure a positive outcome and avoid harsh penalties. They listen to your side of the story and analyze the evidence to determine the best approach for your case. The Noll Law Office has litigated hundreds (if not thousands) of theft cases.
[h3] What Defenses Are Available on Illinois Theft Charges?
Far and away the most common defense is reasonable doubt. In the United States, a person is presumed innocent of the charge and the government must prove them guilty of each and every element of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt.
When it comes to theft charges, normally the prosecutor will have to prove intent. It could be the intent to defraud, the intent to permanently deprive the other person of the property, etc. It can be difficult for prosecutors to prove intent in theft cases.
For example, a person may use the self-checkout lane at a store and forget to scan all of their items. After paying for some of the items in their cart, they are stopped by store security. The defense, in this case, would be that the person did not intend to steal the items they did not scan. They simply made a mistake which is not a crime.
In other cases, it may be difficult for prosecutors to prove that the individual intended to permanently deprive the person of their property. By way of example, if a person took their friend’s lawnmower to use on their rental property for a week. Unfortunately, due to an illness in their family, they kept it for a few weeks. During those few weeks, they have a fight with their friend who reports the lawnmower stolen. The police come to your home where you show them you have the mower. In this case, you did not intend to keep the lawnmower permanently but due to unforeseen circumstances, you simply could not give it back.
Before you decide on a defense, you should speak to your criminal defense lawyer and review the discovery of your case. If you need a criminal defense lawyer, contact the attorneys at the Noll Law Office at (217) 414-8889.
What Areas of Illinois does the Noll Law Office Represent Clients On Theft Cases?
The Noll Law Office is located in Springfield, Illinois and their criminal defense lawyers have represented individuals accused of drug crimes throughout Central Illinois. Most often, the lawyers at the Noll Law Office will represent individuals accused of crimes in:
- Central District of Illinois (Springfield, Peoria, and Urbana)
- Sangamon County, Springfield, Illinois
- Morgan County, Jacksonville, Illinois
- Logan County, Lincoln, Illinois
- Montgomery County, Hillsboro, Illinois
- Christian County, Taylorville, Illinois
- Macoupin County, Carlinville, Illinois
- Menard County, Petersburg, Illinois
- Cass County, Virginia, Illinois
If your case is outside of that geographical area, do not worry. They still may represent you. Call them today and they will let you know if they can represent you and what their fee would be.
How Do I Find the Right Lawyer for My Case If I Am Charged with a Theft Crime?
If you are charged with a theft crime, your future is at stake. You are likely facing a felony conviction, a jail or prison sentence, restitution, and fines. Whether it is the Noll Law Office or a different law firm, you should make sure you have a lawyer who is qualified to represent you in court and help you through this process.
These are some of the questions we recommend you ask a lawyer before hiring them on your theft case:
- How long have you been practicing law?
- Will this case be in federal court or state court?
- How often do you practice where the case is located?
- Do you have experience with the judge and prosecutor?
- How many theft cases have you handled in your career?
- Have you handled any like mine?
- When was the last time you represented someone on a theft charge?
- What type of results have you gotten for people in my situation?
- Do you have familiarity with sentencing alternatives like Second Chance Probation?
- Do you go to trial?
- Do you have experts we can hire to help defend my case?
- When was the last time you had a jury trial that went to the verdict?
- How many jury trials do you do a year?
- What is your fee?
- Are there any additional expenses I should anticipate?
How Will the Noll Law Office Help Me on My Theft Case?
If you retain the Noll Law Office, they will:
- Speak to you about your case;
- Review the discovery for any factual defenses which may exist in your case;
- Review the discovery for any suppression issues or other legal defenses which may exist in your case;
- Determine if you are eligible for any sentencing alternative programs;
- Help obtain favorable mitigating evidence which may exist;
- Speak to the prosecutor about any acceptable resolutions to your case prior to trial;
- Take the case to trial if needed; and
- Always act in your best interests.
If you need a criminal defense lawyer for a theft charge in Central Illinois, the lawyers at the Noll Law Office are available to discuss your case. They offer free initial consultations and have financing options available. You can call them at (217) 414-8889 or use the Contact Us Form.