Yes, and here is the reason. Shoplifting in Virginia is not a minor infraction. It is prosecuted as larceny, and larceny is legally classified as a crime of moral turpitude, meaning a crime of dishonesty. That label matters enormously. A larceny conviction can be used to question your credibility in any future court proceeding, shows up on every background check, and creates particular problems for immigration status, security clearances, nursing, teaching, law, and other licensed careers.
Stores in Blacksburg and Christiansburg prosecute aggressively, and loss prevention employees are trained witnesses. Students are often stopped over items worth a few dollars, and many assume that because the amount is small, the consequences must be small too. The dollar amount affects whether the charge is a misdemeanor or a felony, but even the smallest petit larceny conviction is permanent. Virginia law does not allow convictions to be expunged.
A lawyer changes the math. First offense cases in Montgomery County frequently qualify for resolutions that avoid a conviction entirely, and the way your case resolves determines whether the charge can later be removed from your record. There are also real defenses in these cases, from misunderstandings at self checkout kiosks to questions about intent.
Joel has defended Virginia Tech and Radford students against larceny charges for decades. Call him at 540-961-5297 for a free consultation, and read more on his page about shoplifting charges in Blacksburg.