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We’re betting you have several burning questions you want answered, which is why we created this page. Here you’ll find simple and straightforward answers to the questions that really matter to you right now. Despite this, the best way to make sure all of your questions are answered is to simply pick up the phone and give us a call for a free confidential consultation.
Being charged with a theft or fraud offense in Washington State can be a very serious matter with lasting negative effects on your future. This is partly due to the fact that these matters are considered crimes of dishonesty. Thus, a conviction can lead to consequences such as jail or prison time, reduced job prospects, immigration concerns, and even denials of housing applications. While the degree of seriousness can vary greatly with theft-related crimes, the consequences can be severe even if you are only accused of “shoplifting” something of small value from a convenience store.
What are some of the potential results I can expect?
Because every case has its own unique set of facts and circumstances, it’s not possible for us to tell you what result you will get on your particular case until we have had a chance to fully litigate it. That said, here are some potential results, all of which we have achieved for our clients:
We explain some of these these potential outcomes in a little more detail further down the page, but it’s best to simply call us for a full explanation of what these outcomes mean and how we can achieve them.
There is a wide variety of potential outcomes, so we don’t want you to get ahead of yourself with worrying about every single potential consequence, but because we know this is often a burning question, here are a few:
Theft is considered to be a “crime of dishonesty.” Thus, a conviction can lead to collateral consequences such as loss of current employment, reduced future job prospects, immigration concerns, and even denials of housing applications.
We handle any and all types of theft charges in both state and federal court. Here’s a quick list of some of the most common that we see. If you don’t see the charge you have been accused of below, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Just give us a call.
One of the most common white collar crimes that we see is what is referred to as “Embezzlement.” This typically comes in the form of an employee allegedly stealing from his/her employer in some way, whether it involves writing checks to oneself or some other more complex scheme. You should contact us the second that your employer questions you about an accounting discrepancy or otherwise hints there is any concern whatsoever. If we intervene early, we can sometimes work out an out-of-court settlement that avoids any felony or misdemeanor prosecution. Embezzlement offenses can often become complicated matters involving mountains of documents and evidence. An arrest or conviction for embezzlement and other white collar crimes can also lead to swift and overwhelming consequences including seizure of bank accounts, forfeiture of your home, and the stripping of professional licenses/accreditation. If you are being investigated for a White Collar crime at the state or federal level, the sooner you get a qualified attorney on your side to protect your rights, the better. Court & Michelle are experienced and skilled at handling these complex and sensitive matters, and are always just a phone call away.
A pre-trial dismissal is the best-case scenario, and the odds of achieving it diminish as the value of the property or services stolen increase and/or if you have prior convictions. The effect of a dismissal is that you will not have a conviction of any kind on your record as a result of the accusation.
There are four possible paths to a dismissal in theft cases:
Unless there was an egregious violation of your rights and/or the evidence overwhelmingly points to your innocence, the prosecutor will often require certain terms and conditions to be met prior to dismissing your case. For instance, restitution may need to be paid to the victim and/or completion of a “consumer awareness” class.
Another way to achieve a dismissal is through negotiating a lengthy continuance of your case in the pre-trial stages. Then, at your next court date (which could be up to two years later) your case would be dismissed provided you did not violate any new laws and fulfilled other agreed upon stipulations such as engaging in community service and paying a fine.
If you are accused of misdemeanor theft, you (through your attorney) can pay restitution directly to the victim and they can in turn tell the judge that they have been paid in full and they don’t mind if the case is dismissed. The judge then has the authority to dismiss the case entirely, even if the prosecutor objects.
If the prosecutor will not agree to a dismissal in the pre-trial stages of your case AND a trial is in your best interest over a guilty plea, then you may choose to move forward with a jury trial. If you are found ‘Not Guilty’ at trial, then it has the same effect as a dismissal.
Deciding if a trial is in your best interest is determined through a complete analysis of all the facts and evidence in your case weighed against the risk of a lengthier sentence if convicted. It is a decision that is ultimately up to you, the client, but the advice of your attorney should be very strongly considered.
A conviction for a theft crime can come one of three ways:
Court and Michelle developed a specialty representing those accused of sex crimes through their involvement with Dateline NBC’s To Catch A Predator show. Court was the first attorney in the country to take one of these cases to trial. Read about Court’s success with this first case here.
