Theft crimes vary in the level of seriousness. They range from a simple shoplifting to a Grand Theft Auto. Regardless of the charge, however, Ms. Dodson realizes that every case is serious for the person charged.
Although a crime like shoplifting (petty theft) can seem innocuous it carries a huge stigma to the person charged with it and can have serious consequences. For most people charged the first time, the notion of having an arrest record is the most devastating. Ms. Dodson has managed to help several people avoid petty theft convictions and misdemeanors being placed on their records for life. If a person has a petty theft on their record, a second arrest will result in a felony charge. Ms. Dodson has helped hundreds of people avoid felony convictions.
If you are charged with Grand Theft Auto, it is important to hire Ms. Dodson right away. She has helped many people get their cases dismissed, or avoid jail time from these charges. Whether you are charged with GTA or joyriding, a good defense employed early in your case can make all the difference in your life.
Embezzlement is defined as a person who was trusted with property misappropriating that property. The accused may be a bank teller, an employee, or even a relative. It is important to hire Ms. Dodson and have her deal with the police, district attorney, and victim. Never try to talk to these people without a lawyer. Many embezzlement cases can be resolved with restitution. Ms. Dodson has helped several people avoid felony charges and jail time through negotiating deals with the prosecutors and the victims of these cases.
Identity theft is using someone else’s personal information unlawfully. It could consist of someone taking out credit cards in another person’s name, or even just obtaining their information and selling it to someone else. Ms. Dodson has helped several people accused of identity theft.
More serious theft charges consist of robbery and burglary. Home invasion robbery, robbery and residential burglary are the most serious of theft charges, and it is essential that you hire a qualified attorney, like Ms. Dodson, to represent you as early in the proceedings as possible. This is because these convictions will count as strikes against your record and usually involve state prison sentences as a possible outcome for your case. Furthermore, these crimes usually involve witness identifications. Ms. Dodson needs to be hired before a victim has a chance to identify you in person, such as at a preliminary hearing.
Many times, people may tentatively identify you in a photographic line-up, but fail to pick you out of a live line-up. If your attorney does not request a live line-up, however, they will nearly always identify you at your preliminary hearing. This is because you will be the only one sitting at the defense table, and for the right or wrong reasons, the victim will be convinced that you are the one who committed the crime. Therefore, if you proceed to preliminary hearing without demanding a live line-up, you will undermine your chance at discrediting the witness’s identification of you.
Recent victories
Client was accused of petty theft, or shoplifting, as a misdemeanor. She was arrested at the 99 cent store. Having never committed a crime in her life, she was distraught at the idea of her record reflecting a criminal conviction. In fact, the notion of showing up in person for court gave her panic attacks. Ms. Dodson appeared for her and convinced the prosecutor to dismiss the case. Her client never had to appear in court or suffer a criminal conviction.
Client was arrested for stealing DVD’s. He was applying to medical school and could not suffer a conviction on his record. Ms. Dodson managed to convince the prosecutor to dismiss the case after he completed a theft-impulse control course.
Client was arrested and charged with petty theft for leaving the store with items and failing to pay for them. She had never been convicted or arrested before and was also distraught. Ms. Dodson appeared on her behalf and presented evidence of her fragile, psychological state. With a doctor’s letter listing the medications she was prescribed, Ms. Dodson managed to convince the prosecutor that the theft could have been unintentional. The prosecutor allowed her to receive an infraction (which is minor compared to a misdemeanor). Infractions also do not require the accused to plea in open court, and Ms. Dodson can accept the infraction without the accused being required to make an appearance.
Client was arrested and charged with petty theft as a prior. She had eight other petty theft convictions on her record. Ms. Dodson conducted several interviews with her client and her client’s psychologist. At the arraignment, the judge recognized Ms. Dodson’s client from her last case and exclaimed, “YOU! I told you if I ever saw you in my court again, I would send you to jail.” Ms. Dodson requested a sidebar and explained to the judge that her client had a diseased mind, not a criminal mind. After presenting the judge with evidence of her client’s mental afflictions, the judge allowed Ms. Dodson’s client to plead to a misdemeanor and serve a community service sentence.
Client was arrested and charged with Grand Theft Auto. He was accused of selling a stolen car to another person who was caught driving the stolen car. There were several witnesses and a lot of paperwork confirming Ms. Dodson’s client was the person who sold her the car. Ms. Dodson managed to get the case dismissed by a 995 motion to dismiss that argued Ms. Dodson’s client had no reason to know the car was stolen.
Client was arrested for embezzlement of over $80,000 of computer equipment. He worked for a company as a computer technician and was caught selling parts he was supposed to have installed on his company’s computers on ebay. An audit of his ebay account revealed an extensive amount of equipment that his company had purchase orders and receipts proving the parts belonged to them. Ms. Dodson managed to convince the judge to allow him to plea to a misdemeanor with a partial restitution payment and complete payment to occur over his probationary period. Although he had a prior conviction for embezzlement, he served no jail time and never had to post bail for his case.
Client was charged with welfare fraud. She hired another lawyer who worked out a plea bargain where she was required to plead to a felony and pay $10,000 towards restitution before plea to avoid jail time. When client client complained to her lawyer, he told her there was no way the deal would get better. Unhappy with this deal, client hired Ms. Dodson to replace her other lawyer. Ms. Dodson worked very hard and after lengthy negotiations, worked out a plea where the client was allowed to plea to a misdemeanor, serve no jail time or community service, and complete restitution over the three-year probationary period.
Client was arrested and charged with residential burglary. Neighbors witnessed the break-in and immediately called police. He was caught during the burglary in the victim’s home by law enforcement. Several electronics had been moved and were ready to be loaded when officers arrived on the scene. The district attorney felt he had an open and shut case and offered two years in state prison. No negotiation was possible and the district attorney even told Ms. Dodson that it was county policy to give two years for all residential burglaries. Therefore, Ms. Dodson filed a sentencing memorandum asking the judge for a better disposition. Ms. Dodson’s client received a probationary sentence. |
