Petty Theft Attorney in Tri-Cities

They Called It "Minor." Your Background Check Won't.

A Theft in the Third Degree conviction doesn’t disappear after you pay the fine. It shows up. The good news: charges are not convictions. Attorney Charlie Dow spent years as a prosecutor learning exactly how these cases are built; and where they fall apart. He’s now on your side, fighting to keep this off your record before it defines you.

If you’ve been cited or arrested for petty theft in Kennewick, Richland, Pasco, or anywhere across Benton, Franklin, or Walla Walla County, the most important thing to know is this: a “small” theft charge is not small. It’s a criminal offense that can follow you onto every background check, job application, and rental form for the rest of your life. You need a petty theft attorney who will treat your case with the same seriousness a felony defendant would expect, because the long-term consequences are not far off.

The earlier a petty theft attorney gets involved, the more options you have, especially before charges are formally filed.

What A Petty Theft Charge Actually Means For You

Washington law doesn’t use the term “petty theft.” When people in the Tri-Cities are charged with what they’d call petty theft or shoplifting, the actual charge is Theft in the Third Degree under RCW 9A.56.050. It applies whenever the property or services involved are valued at $750 or less.

It’s classified as a gross misdemeanor, which carries up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Don’t let the word “misdemeanor” fool you. This is not a charge that quietly disappears. A conviction lands on your record as a crime of dishonesty, and that label sticks. Employers, landlords, and licensing boards take crimes of dishonesty seriously—often more seriously than a one-time DUI. For Hanford workers, military service members, teachers, healthcare workers, CDL holders, and anyone holding a professional license in Eastern Washington, a single conviction can cost you the career you’ve spent years building.

The Risks You're Facing Right Now

A petty theft conviction in Washington can mean:

Up to 364 days in jail and fines up to $5,000
A permanent criminal record flagged as a crime of dishonesty
Civil demand letters from retailers under RCW 4.24.230, often demanding $100–$500 on top of any criminal penalty
Immigration consequences for non-citizens, including deportability for crimes involving moral turpitude
Job loss or denied employment, especially in any role that handles money, inventory, or vulnerable people
Loss of housing when landlords run background checks
Loss of professional licenses for nurses, teachers, real estate agents, and others

If you’ve been charged a second or third time, prosecutors in Benton and Franklin County frequently elevate the charge to a felony under RCW 9A.56.040 or pursue enhanced penalties. A petty theft lawyer who understands how local prosecutors stack these cases is essential.

How Gideon's Associates Fights Petty Theft Cases

Attorney Charlie Dow began his career as a prosecutor before founding Gideon’s Associates. He knows exactly how the state builds these cases, which means he knows where they fall apart. As your petty theft attorney, he will:

Challenge the evidence. Surveillance footage is often grainy, mislabeled, or shows something very different from what the police report claims. Loss-prevention officers make mistakes, misidentify suspects, and sometimes violate Washington’s citizen-arrest and detention rules.

Attack intent. Theft requires proof that you intended to deprive the owner of their property. Forgetfulness, confusion at self-checkout, a child who slipped something into a cart, a returned item without a receipt, a dispute over ownership—none of these are theft, but they’re routinely charged as if they were.

Negotiate alternatives. For first-time clients and many repeat clients, we pursue diversion programs, a compromise of misdemeanor under RCW 10.22, deferred prosecutions, stipulated orders of continuance, or pre-filing resolutions that keep a conviction off your record entirely.

Protect your future. Where a dismissal isn’t realistic, we negotiate toward outcomes that preserve your ability to clear the record later. If you already have a past conviction weighing you down, our post-conviction relief services may help you vacate it.

We’re part of our broader theft defense practice, which covers everything from shoplifting and petit larceny to organized retail theft and felony-level cases.

Why Eastern Washington Families Choose Us

Gideon’s Associates was built around one idea: constitutional defense should not be a luxury. We offer flat-rate fees so you know your total cost upfront, monthly payment plans, sliding scale fees for qualifying clients, and pro bono representation when circumstances demand it.

We serve clients at the Benton County Justice Center in Kennewick, Franklin County Superior Court in Pasco, Walla Walla County courts, and municipal courts throughout the region.

What Our CLient's Say

Answering Frequently Asked Questions

Will a first-offense petty theft show up on background checks?

Yes. Even a charge—before any conviction—can appear on standard background checks. A petty theft attorney can fight to keep it from becoming a conviction in the first place.

The store sent me a civil demand letter. Do I have to pay it?

That’s a separate civil matter from the criminal case, and paying it does not make the criminal charge disappear. Talk to a petty theft lawyer before responding.

Can I get a petty theft charge dismissed?

Often, yes—especially for first-time clients. Diversion, compromise of misdemeanor, and pre-filing negotiations are all on the table when you have skilled representation.

Do I need an attorney for a $20 shoplifting charge?

Yes. The dollar amount doesn’t change the long-term damage. The conviction is what hurts you, not the value of the item.

What if I already pleaded guilty?

You may still have options. Ask us about vacating the conviction or sealing the record.

Talk to a petty theft attorney today

You deserve to be heard, and relentlessly protected.

A petty theft charge is the kind of mistake the system uses to define you for years. It doesn’t have to.

Call Gideon’s Associates, PLLC, or send us a message to speak with a petty theft attorney who will fight for the outcome your life actually deserves. You deserve to be heard, and relentlessly protected.