Shoplifting, Larceny, Robbery, Theft can shoplifting charges get worse?

[franc]

New York , I'm an adult and should know better, but I messed up big time. I've been shoplifting at a local retail store on a regular basis, last week I was caught. First offense. I am sick to my stomach from the moment I wake until I fall asleep. Yes, most probably because I was caught, however, I am greatly remorseful and I know I will never ever do this again; not ever. All the guilt I feel and humiliation of people finding out about this is not worth it. I did not admit any wrong doing, all items were in the open sitting in the shopping cart, the total was $151. I was asked if I had money to pay for it and I nodded that I did. There was nothing hidden on my person. They did photograph me holding a paper they had me sign stating that I could not trespass for two years. The police were called, I was taken in hand cuffs to the police station, I was not questioned, nor did I volunteer any information; I was photographed again and fingerprinted. I have a court appearance in two weeks. I hired an attorney. I was told that I would be pleading 'not guilty'. This was the biggest mistake of my life and really don't have a good excuse as to why I continued to take what was not mine, except to say the more that I got away with it the more I kept it up. The store wanted me to sign a paper that had to do with Civil Restitution; he said I had ten days to pay them $500, but I declined to sign it. I thought that since I did not sign that paper, that they would mail it to me, but it has been one week and I have not received anything in the mail from them. My attorney told me to ignore anything I get in the mail from them. I keep thinking that if they were to go back and watch surveillance video's for the previous few weeks that they will see me not going through a checkout and figure out that I have done this before and got away with it. Is there even a remote possibility that this could happen? Would this be considered evidence/proof that I had done it before? If the video shows me leaving the store without going thru a checkout can they charge me for those times also? How long do stores usually keep these video's? My mind is playing tricks on me and I can't eat or sleep. I am wondering why I have not received that Civil Restitution for the $500; could it be because there could be additional charges in the works? What is your best guess as to the penalties i am facing?

 

[thelawjournal]

Civil Demand and criminal charges have nothing to do with each other. Civil demand can take months to arrive

 

[thelawjournal]

It has been brought to my attention that you have sought and recieved advice from another site (legal forum) let me remind that this may not be safe. I must also advise you that anyone can pretend to be anyone on message board and that these legal forums often do not have Lawyers answering questions and if they do you have to ask why they have time to troll message boards? These forums quite often are not checked for accuracy (here they are). Its also difficult to be an expert on everything! These sites try to do too much and often times fail to do much at all. Where you are welcome to search elsewhere we must warn you that there are potential dangers in this. People have been arested, fired, sued, suspended and, more due to posts on message boards that usually do little to protect ID of users (unlike here) Please use caution as we often see very poor info that can prove harmful from these sites

 

[Bluejedi]

I find it very, very hard to believe that a legit lawyer would tell you to ignore anything in the mail you get regarding any civil demands or any type of paperwork you get from where you shoplifted from.

Now if you are truly worried about any potential civil demands, I highly suggest you have your lawyer contact the store on your behalf.

In the meantime while waiting for a court date and/or civil demand- for what it's since you have said you have shoplifted many times before and not been caught, in my totally non legal opinion-is to go take a study at home shoplifting education program (it's $75 BTW, but worth it) and return it to them. They can't and won't promise that this course will help your case, but at the very least it will help you understand what motivates you to shoplift and coping strategies.

 

[thelawjournal]

I have read many times that Lawyers have suggested ignoring civil demand there can be several reasons for this. I will get into that if you wish but for now lets just say I personally disagree with ignoring such letters. Not to say one should ignore Attorney advice its just my opinion.