When two friends are together during a theft in the Dallas area, everything taken by both people will be added up and both parties will be charged with stealing the full amount of all goods taken. This is because of a law called the law of parties.
It makes both people guilty of the same offense if both were together at the time the items were taken. Where this causes a problem is when one person shoplifts a $20 item and one takes a $150 item.
The $20 item would normally be a ticket, but because of the total amount taken, the charge now becomes a class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail and up to a $2000 fine.
If you need help defending your theft case in the Dallas area, call me at 214-296-2770.
