Q: I was charged with a theft scheme less than $1500 (>$500 really), in Frederick county, Maryland. I have no previous

A: If you cannot retain private counsel, contact the Public Defender as soon as possible. Jail is unlikely for a first time offender. An attorney will likely be able to keep a conviction off your record. You should be prepared to make restitution which will be required and also go a long way to getting you the best result.

A: You have not described a series of thefts planned as one continuous theft scheme, but more probably multiple individual minor thefts unconnected to each other, but perhaps there is something missing from your recitation of the facts. Theft scheme is often an over-charged crime to bump the case into a felony as opposed to several misdemeanors. Regardless, you recognize that you need a lawyer. Unless you have money, credit cards, or the ability to borrow from friends or family, then you will need to apply as soon as possible for the Public Defender. Most first time theft cases of this type can be resolved with probation and often without a conviction (or the ability to strike the conviction at a later date), which will allow for expungement of your record. However, more details will be needed, which you should only provide in a private consultation with counsel. If you were an employee of the store you stole from, then the case will be treated more seriously.

A: Although any theft is potentially a jailable offense, I agree with Mr. Scherr that it would be an unlikely outcome on the facts you've described. You may wish to consider retaining counsel to leverage those factors to your benefit.