Criminal Defense Lawyer In Columbia, SC
Understanding the Impact of Criminal Charges
Being charged with a crime can be devastating. If convicted, you may face jail time, fines, community service, probation, and more. However, many fail to understand that a criminal charge or conviction can affect your life in even more ways.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. Contact a skilled Columbia criminal defense attorney at the Law Office of Sharpe & Leventis, LLC to fight your criminal charge. Our lawyers sympathize with your situation and can help with almost any charge, including assault, domestic violence, property crimes, violent crimes, sex crimes, drunk driving, shoplifting, and drug possession/distribution and trafficking. Our attorneys were born and raised in Columbia and look forward to assisting you.
How Can A Criminal Conviction Damage Your Life?
A criminal conviction may not just put you in jail and force you to pay thousands in fines. Your future, reputation, education, and ability to get and hold a job could also be severely affected.
For example, once you have been convicted, it will be on your record for years and possibly forever. Every criminal background check an employer or landlord runs on you will probably show the charge or conviction. Even if you can get a record expunged or sealed, it still could show up when people search for information about you. That’s why it’s so vital to hire a highly experienced and tenacious criminal defense lawyer immediately. With our help, the charge could be reduced, or the case even dropped.
Don’t Take A Shoplifting Charge Lightly
What’s the big deal? It’s just shoplifting, right? Wrong! In South Carolina, you can receive a felony conviction for shoplifting merchandise worth over $2,000. Even a ‘minor’ shoplifting charge is a grave situation. You could receive up to 30 days in jail, fines, and a permanent black mark on your record. To make matters worse, if you are convicted of shoplifting, it counts as a “property crime” under South Carolina law. If you have two prior “property crimes,” a third one can result in a much more severe penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
Some examples of other property crimes include but are not limited to:
- Petit Larceny
- Grand Larceny
- Forgery
- Obtaining Goods Under False Pretenses
- Malicious Injury to Personal Property
- Malicious Injury to Real Property
- Check Fraud
Columbia criminal defense lawyers at the Law Office of Sharpe & Leventis, LLC have many years of proven experience defending South Carolinians against shoplifting charges. They will listen to your side and fight for the optimal case resolution.
Misdemeanor Or Felony – What’s The Difference?
There are two kinds of criminal charges: misdemeanors and felonies. A misdemeanor is usually a non-violent charge that may result in a jail sentence of up to three years in South Carolina state court. A felony can be punished by five years or more in jail or prison. Common misdemeanors in South Carolina are:
- DUI – 1st Offense
- Marijuana possession
- Shoplifting
- Assault & Battery – 3rd Degree
- Trespassing
- Vandalism
- Public intoxication
- Disorderly conduct
- Open Container of Alcohol
- Shoplifting (Less than $2000)
Felonies that are common in South Carolina are:
- Armed robbery
- Homicide
- Rape
- Serious assault
- Kidnapping
- Burglary
- Drug Distribution
- Drug Trafficking
As soon as you have been arrested for a misdemeanor or a felony, contact our Columbia criminal defense attorney immediately. Say as little as possible to the police and only answer questions with our attorneys present.
Contact Our Columbia Criminal Defense Attorneys Now
Being charged with a misdemeanor or felony in South Carolina is a serious matter. The South Carolina criminal justice system is complicated and difficult to navigate without a proven criminal defense attorney. Whether the charge is a misdemeanor or felony, it is vital to your future to retain an experienced Columbia criminal defense attorney now. The Law Office of Sharpe & Leventis, LLC is ready to craft your defense, so call today or contact us using our online form.
Call Our Experienced Columbia Criminal Defense Attorney Today.