DD in trouble with the law at VA Beach

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is exceedingly unlikely the prosecutor will actually push for a felony here, given age, lack of record, and the value of the item. This doesn't even factor in whether there is a chance for reasonable doubt on the underlying crime itself.

SOP is to charge high and then work your way down. A PD should have no trouble getting this to a misdemeanor; I am not sure the prosecutor would even put up much of a fight.

That doesn't mean you might not still want a private attorney if you can afford it because they will be more likely explore whether there are even better possible options than pleading to a misdemeanor.

This is serious, but it is very unlikely to have some of the dire consequences discussed here.

This is terrible advice. I say this as a prosecutor.

If you are actually a prosecutor, you know know damn well you aren't pushing for a felony on 16 year old, first time offender, who took items that might be worth over $200. You would plead it out to less in a heartbeat.

[Anonymous]

Get a local private lawyer. A good lawyer knows the law. A great lawyer knows the judge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BTW, FELONY shoplifting? What did she boost?

A car?

Haha, no not a car. She stole some jewelry, but the amount was 201.99. Evidently, if it's over $200, it's a felony.

Haha, yes, this is so funny

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BTW, FELONY shoplifting? What did she boost?

A car?

Haha, no not a car. She stole some jewelry, but the amount was 201.99. Evidently, if it's over $200, it's a felony.

I find it interesting that you’re laughing and that you confirm she committed a felony.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get a local private lawyer. A good lawyer knows the law. A great lawyer knows the judge.

No one knows judges better than a public defender. They are practicing in the same court, year after year. While private attorneys will cover one case here , one case there and run between Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Suffolk, Hampton and Newport News courts.

OP, I would talk to the PD first before splurging money for a private lawyer. If you decide to spend money on a private lawyer, do your research. Just because he is private, it does not automatically mean that he is good or knows what he is doing. The best criminal defense attorneys are coming either from the Commonwealth attorneys office or public defender office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get a local private lawyer. A good lawyer knows the law. A great lawyer knows the judge.

No one knows judges better than a public defender. They are practicing in the same court, year after year. While private attorneys will cover one case here , one case there and run between Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Suffolk, Hampton and Newport News courts.

OP, I would talk to the PD first before splurging money for a private lawyer. If you decide to spend money on a private lawyer, do your research. Just because he is private, it does not automatically mean that he is good or knows what he is doing. The best criminal defense attorneys are coming either from the Commonwealth attorneys office or public defender office.

Whether PDs are “the best” or not is less important than the fact that they have less time to spend on individual cases, especially a shoplifting case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get a local private lawyer. A good lawyer knows the law. A great lawyer knows the judge.

No one knows judges better than a public defender. They are practicing in the same court, year after year. While private attorneys will cover one case here , one case there and run between Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Suffolk, Hampton and Newport News courts.

OP, I would talk to the PD first before splurging money for a private lawyer. If you decide to spend money on a private lawyer, do your research. Just because he is private, it does not automatically mean that he is good or knows what he is doing. The best criminal defense attorneys are coming either from the Commonwealth attorneys office or public defender office.

The counterpoint to that and I agree that the PD office provides great training and is full of good lawyers is (stop me if you’ve heard this before) time and resources.

[Anonymous]

I might do a quick look through the bedroom to see if there are other items in your house you do not recognize.

[Anonymous]

Try to call and speak to the public defender as a concerned parent. It does make a difference if they are aware there is supportive family that will be involved in this teen's future.

[Anonymous]

A public defender goes by income. How did she get one if you can afford to pay? This makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

I think anyone with no lawyer has the right to a public defender

Also, I'm not sure how good background checks are at finding stuff from before the age of 18

I was arrested for something kind of silly in high school, had community service because of it and never mentioned it or dealt with any issues related to it on college or job applications

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is exceedingly unlikely the prosecutor will actually push for a felony here, given age, lack of record, and the value of the item. This doesn't even factor in whether there is a chance for reasonable doubt on the underlying crime itself.

SOP is to charge high and then work your way down. A PD should have no trouble getting this to a misdemeanor; I am not sure the prosecutor would even put up much of a fight.

That doesn't mean you might not still want a private attorney if you can afford it because they will be more likely explore whether there are even better possible options than pleading to a misdemeanor.

This is serious, but it is very unlikely to have some of the dire consequences discussed here.

This is terrible advice. I say this as a prosecutor.

If you are actually a prosecutor, you know know damn well you aren't pushing for a felony on 16 year old, first time offender, who took items that might be worth over $200. You would plead it out to less in a heartbeat.

LOL at the "prosecutor" and doom and gloom scenario on this thread . Yes, get a good lawyer if you can afford it, but this will be plead down to a misdemeanor in a heartbeat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A public defender goes by income. How did she get one if you can afford to pay? This makes no sense.

Agree, legal aid is very difficult to qualify for

[Anonymous]

Is this her first offense?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A public defender goes by income. How did she get one if you can afford to pay? This makes no sense.

Agree, legal aid is very difficult to qualify for

I'm pretty sure the legal aid that is hard to qualify for is when you don't have a right to a lawyer, like trying to sue your landlord

If you are accused of a felony, you can get a public defender