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nyc criminal lawyers over 30 years of experienceWe Know How To Win Cases

Spodek Law Group handles tough cases
nationwide, that demand excellence.

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Faced 5+ Years in Prison

People Vs Joseph Amico

Covered by NYDaily News. Las Vegas man accused of threatening a prominent attorney and making vile remarks.

Faced 10+ Years in Prison

People Vs. Anna Sorokin

Covered by New York Times, and other outlets. Fake heiress accused of conning the city’s wealthy, and has an HBO special being made about her.

Faced 3+ Years in Prison

People Vs. Genevieve Sabourin

Accused of stalking Alec Baldwin. The case garnered nationwide attention, with USAToday, NYPost, and other media outlets following it closely.

Faced Potential Charges

Ghislaine Maxwell Juror

Juror who prompted calls for new Ghislaine Maxwell trial turns to lawyer who defended Anna Sorokin.

Why Choose Us

Clients can use our portal to track the status of their case, stay in touch with us, upload documents, and more.

Regardless of the type of situation you're facing, our attorneys are here to help you get quality representation.

We can setup consultations in person, over Zoom, or over the phone to help you. Bottom line, we're here to help you win your case.

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Meet Todd Spodek

WE PROVIDE WHITE GLOVE SERVICE TO CLIENTS
WHO WANT MORE FROM THEIR ATTORNEY

The Spodek Law Group understands how delicate high-profile cases can be, and has a strong track record of getting positive outcomes. Our lawyers service a clientele that is nationwide. With offices in both LA and NYC, and cases all across the country - Spodek Law Group is a top tier law firm.

Todd Spodek is a second generation attorney with immense experience. He has many years of experience handling 100’s of tough and hard to win trials. He’s been featured on major news outlets, such as New York Post, Newsweek, Fox 5 New York, South China Morning Post, Insider.com, and many others.

In 2022, Netflix released a series about one of Todd’s clients: Anna Delvey/Anna Sorokin.

Why Clients Choose Spodek Law Group

The reason is simple: clients want white glove service, and lawyers who can win. Every single client who works with the Spodek Law Group is aware that the attorney they hire could drastically change the outcome of their case. Hiring the Spodek Law Group means you’re taking your future seriously. Our lawyers handle cases nationwide, ranging from NYC to LA. Our philosophy is fair and simple: our nyc criminal lawyers only take on clients who we know will benefit from our services.

We’re selective about the clients we work with, and only take on cases we know align with our experience – and where we can make a difference. This is different from other law firms who are not invested in your success nor care about your outcome.

If you have a legal issue, call us for a consultation.
We are available 24/7, to help you with any – and all, challenges you face.

Staten Island Shoplifting Lawyers

Shoplifting Charges in New York: Understanding the Legal Process and Hiring a Defense Attorney

Types of Shoplifting Charges

Shoplifting is a common criminal offense that can have formidable consequences. If you or a loved one is facing shoplifting charges, it’s essential to understand the legal process and how a skilled attorney can assist you in beating or managing your case.

Shoplifting generally falls under the definitions set forth in NY Penal Law Article 155 (Larceny). If you shoplift $1000 or less worth of items, you’re charged with petit larceny, a Class A misdemeanor. Don’t let the label of misdemeanor give you any relief – a Class A misdemeanor (shoplifting) is punishable by up to one year in jail. You could also face probation and heavy fines.

If you shoplift more than $1000 worth of items, you can be hit with a charge of grand larceny, which means higher fines, more jail time, and a felony charge on your record.

Five minutes of shoplifting could land you in hot water and make your life very difficult.

The Importance of Hiring a Defense Attorney

That’s where a skilled defense attorney comes in! In a shoplifting case, even if it seems very cut and dry, you need a quality defense attorney on your side. Without one, you could easily be taken advantage of at any time during your arrest or arraignment.

Shoplifting Arrest and Arraignment

If you are caught shoplifting, often there is a confrontation with store employees, security, or police. You will be detained in the backroom, searched, and interrogated. They may encourage you to write a statement of guilt, sign documents (which will be legally binding, even if you don’t understand them), or pay fines. When the police arrive and bring you to the station, you will be detained and interrogated again. You’ll be fingerprinted and photographed. Your mugshot and arrest report will become publicly available online within days or even hours. You’ll receive a desk ticket informing you of when you must appear in court for your arraignment. If you fail to appear, a warrant can be issued for your arrest.

At the arraignment, you will hear a formal reading of your rights and charges. You should absolutely have an attorney at the arraignment with you. You and your lawyer will hear about the nature of your charges and the evidence that the prosecution has against you. Then your attorney can move for a dismissal, enter a plea, make other motions, or negotiate. The judge at this stage can set bail, dismiss the case, or agree to negotiations. It is imperative to have an attorney at this stage. If you plead guilty without a lawyer to advise you, you will be convicted right away and you risk receiving the harshest penalties available.

Possible Defenses to a Shoplifting Charge

If you don’t plead guilty to your charges or enter a deal, you and your attorney will go to court where your attorney will make defensive arguments and motions on your behalf. These could include:

  1. Proving intent: A shoplifting charge requires that the alleged actor show both an intent to steal and an intent to deprive the store of the items or money owed. Your attorney could argue that your actions were accidental, ignorant, or otherwise unintended. Perhaps you accidentally walked out of the store with something and immediately attempted to pay for it upon realizing it. There would be no intent in this instance.
  2. Challenging the witness: An unreliable witness greatly diminishes the strength of the charges. Your attorney could prove, for example, that the witness was actually not present at the store at the time of the incident or mistaken or fraudulent in their statements.
  3. Negotiating a deal: After the arraignment, the prosecution may offer you a plea deal. If you’ve gotten this far without a lawyer, be extremely careful. Plea deals may seem preferable if they eliminate the possibility of jail time, but the prosecution does not have your interests at heart. You may still be left with a criminal record and/or excessive fines. Having a lawyer is imperative because they can knowledgeably and successfully advocate for your best interests. An attorney can help you lower fines, reduce jail time, or in very specific circumstances (i.e., crimes committed because of substance abuse) seal your criminal record. If you do end up with a criminal record, a good attorney can assist you in obtaining a Certificate of Good Conduct to help mitigate some of the consequences of your criminal record.

A shoplifting charge should be taken seriously and handled professionally by an attorney with New York criminal court experience and has your best interests at heart. Mishandling or delaying in retaining an attorney could have detrimental consequences to all aspects of your life – employment, housing, finances, and immigration or travel. If you are facing a shoplifting charge in New York City, rest assured that we fit the bill with experienced, professional, and friendly attorneys ready to take your case.

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Testimonials

I was searching for a law firm with some power to help me deal with a warrant in New York . After 6 days I decided to go with Spodek Law Group. It helped that This law firm is well respected by not only the top law firms in New York , but the DA , Judge as well. I...

~Fonder Brandon

5 Stars
It was my good fortune to retain Spodek Law Group for representation for my legal needs. From the beginning, communication was prompt and thorough. Todd, Kenneth and Alex were the first people I worked with and they all made me, and my company Qumana skincare feel comfortable and confident that the team was going to work hard for me. Everything...

~A G

5 Stars
After meeting with several law firms, I chose the Spodek Law Group not only for their professionalism and experience, but for the personal attention given to me right from the initial consultation. It is important to recognize how crucial having the right legal team is when faced with potentially life altering events that impact families and the lives of loved...

~George Cherubini

Spodek Law Group

White Glove Service

We Provide Superior Service, Excellent Results, At A Level Superior To Other Criminal Defense Law Firms. Regardless Of Where Your Case Is, Nationwide, We Can Help You.
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