DD in trouble with the law at VA Beach

[Anonymous]

My DD was caught shoplifting in VA Beach and was put in detention to wait for her upcoming court date. Any advice on getting a lawyer or go with the Public Defender?
She is charged with a felony. She's 16.
Much appreciate any experience you might have with the VA legal system.

[Anonymous]

You need a lawyer in the VA beach area. That's some expensive shoplifting -- you'll pay around $10,000 by the time this is all said and done.

[Anonymous]

BTW, FELONY shoplifting? What did she boost?

[Anonymous]

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

A car?

[Anonymous]

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.

[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.

When you finish with your legal problem, she needs some serious psychological help and consequences for stealing.

[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.

Wow. Is this her first time getting caught? You definitely need a lawyer. I would assume that they can get it reduced to a misdemeanor. Hopefully she's learned her lesson. You would be wise to make her work to pay off the legal fees, which will run into the many thousands.

[Anonymous]

Yes, in Virginia $200 is felony, bet that is why the store priced the item just over amount, $201.99 is an odd price otherwise. Be glad she is not yet 18.

[Anonymous]

https://www.brownfirmpllc.com/criminal-defense/theft/virginia-shoplifting-laws/

Get a lawyer quickly and see if you can offer restitution.

[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.

Wow. Is this her first time getting caught? You definitely need a lawyer. I would assume that they can get it reduced to a misdemeanor. Hopefully she's learned her lesson. You would be wise to make her work to pay off the legal fees, which will run into the many thousands.

The assigned public defender is working in DD's best interest. Should I not rely on that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Wow. Is this her first time getting caught? You definitely need a lawyer. I would assume that they can get it reduced to a misdemeanor. Hopefully she's learned her lesson. You would be wise to make her work to pay off the legal fees, which will run into the many thousands.

The assigned public defender is working in DD's best interest. Should I not rely on that?

Not if you can afford a lawyer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Wow. Is this her first time getting caught? You definitely need a lawyer. I would assume that they can get it reduced to a misdemeanor. Hopefully she's learned her lesson. You would be wise to make her work to pay off the legal fees, which will run into the many thousands.

The assigned public defender is working in DD's best interest. Should I not rely on that?

Would you prefer your child see a doctor at a public health clinic or a physician in private practice?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Wow. Is this her first time getting caught? You definitely need a lawyer. I would assume that they can get it reduced to a misdemeanor. Hopefully she's learned her lesson. You would be wise to make her work to pay off the legal fees, which will run into the many thousands.

The assigned public defender is working in DD's best interest. Should I not rely on that?

The assigned public defender is working in DD's best interest, along with the dozens and dozens of other cases on his or her plate at this exact moment. Even the best, most well-intentioned public defenders frequently can't do a great job - and they know it, and wouldn't deny it - because they are swamped by their workload.

If you can at all afford it, pay for a lawyer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Wow. Is this her first time getting caught? You definitely need a lawyer. I would assume that they can get it reduced to a misdemeanor. Hopefully she's learned her lesson. You would be wise to make her work to pay off the legal fees, which will run into the many thousands.

The assigned public defender is working in DD's best interest. Should I not rely on that?

Are you willing to bet your daughter's future on someone who probably has dozens of cases, including murder and other cases? who will likely only spend a couple of hours of their time on her case?

Go and see a lawyer or two, pay for an hour of their time and their opinion. Find out how much it would cost for them to take the case and the likely expected outcome. Then hire the one you like. Expect to pay a retainer of a few thousand dollars. A good lawyer will have a relationship with the local DAs office, will know what is a likely outcome, and will also tell you what a good outcome might be, and a bad outcome. You are paying for guidance through a very screwy legal system.

I have a sibling with an intellectual disability and documented mental health problems who walked into an unlocked and empty house (house was on the market to be sold) in a nice neighborhood. She was charged with a felony, and it took $15K and a private lawyer to get the whole matter settled. The DAs office wanted to prosecute, as it was a very nice community she had been walking around in (my brother lives there). The private lawyer kept pushing the court date in order to keep working to provide the DAs office with the medical records they felt they needed before they would drop the case. In the end, my sister was put on probation for a year, and then the record was expunged after that time. My parents are on a limited income (retired), and that $15K was not easy for them to come up with, but they consider it money well spent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Wow. Is this her first time getting caught? You definitely need a lawyer. I would assume that they can get it reduced to a misdemeanor. Hopefully she's learned her lesson. You would be wise to make her work to pay off the legal fees, which will run into the many thousands.

The assigned public defender is working in DD's best interest. Should I not rely on that?

Not if you can afford a lawyer.

Holy crap. No, I would pay whatever it costs for a good criminal defense attorney.
A felony can come back to haunt her for years.