---
title: "Do I need a lawyer for a petty larceny charge?"
description: "Paying the fine means pleading guilty, which means a permanent conviction for a crime of dishonesty on your record. It is almost always the wrong move. Even a petty larceny conviction can cost you..."
url: https://bankandmunns.com/faq-items/do-i-need-a-lawyer-for-a-petty-larceny-charge/
date: 2026-04-22
modified: 2026-04-22
author: "Bank and Munns"
type: avada_faq
lang: en
---

# Do I need a lawyer for a petty larceny charge?

Paying the fine means pleading guilty, which means a permanent conviction for a crime of dishonesty on your record. It is almost always the wrong move. Even a petty larceny conviction can cost you jobs, apartments, professional licenses, and immigration status. A **Rhode Island larceny lawyer** can often negotiate a first-offense petty larceny into diversion or a filed disposition that leaves no conviction on your record - for far less long-term cost than pleading guilty creates in lost wages. Bank & Munns offers free consultations so you can find out your options before making a decision you cannot undo.