pleasehelpmemi
New Member
Hello,
First of all let me apologize in advance, I am in a very distressed state and have been awake for well over 48 hours now. So everyone knows I am in Michigan. We are a low income family, with myself, my fiance, and our two children (4 year old daughter and 7 year old son) and I can not afford to consult an attorney, and I am desperately afraid I could go to jail (which at this point would cause my family to lose our home and for me to lose custody of my Son, whom I have full custody of). My son has lived with me since he was 13 months old, and his mother has been very hard to contact, and has been absent from my son's life for over 5 years now. I am very worried about my son's well being if he is stripped away from me, his sister, and my fiance (who he has known as his "mommy" since a very early time in his life).
A few days ago we purchased a new Xbox 360 video game system from Target for our children (with help of a couple of family members). When we got home we started looking up children titles and asking our kids what games they wanted for it they requested mostly games there where only on the Wii. We decided to look for a used Nintendo Wii and eventually found a system in like new condition for significantly less than they where selling for in the stores (on craigslist). Once we lined up a Wii we returned the unused Xbox 360 to Target. My fiance returned the system after visiting a friend in the area and the next day we used the money to purchase the Wii from the seller.
Early in the day Friday a county sheriff deputy came to my home. I was not home at the time and my fiance answered the door. The deputy asked if i was home (asked for me by name). She informed him that was not home and asked if there was something she could help him with. He then started asking my fiance questions about a recent fraudulent return to Target, and started to ask her what she knew about it. She informed the officer repeatedly she had no idea what he was talking about, but he continued to question her about it. The officer eventually informed my fiance that they had video of myself as well as her returning Xbox 360 systems without the hard drive, that same day (even though I never left the house that day). She continued to explain to him that she had no idea what he was talking about. to which he replied "I can't accept that as an answer". The officer asked my fiance if she could look around and see if there where any hard drives around, she went downstairs (in my office) and saw a couple laptop hard drives on the shelf, took them to him and asked the officer "Is this it? This is the only thing I could find that looks like a computer part." The officer told her that it was, and she handed the laptop hard drives to the officer.
During the conversation he tells her things like "I know money is hard for everyone right now, I will understand if you tell me you did it because you have children" and "If your fiance calls me and works things out he is only looking at a misdemeanor and the judge might be lenient and let him off with a fine" as well as the all too cliche "If you are honest with me I might be able to help him when it's time to go to court." He also informed her that both of us where likely going to be charged with a simple misdemeanor, which is "2nd Degree Retail Fraud" (over $200 but less than $1000). According to the Michigan state laws that carries the possibility of some serious jail time and very large fines.
She continues to inform him that she doesn't know about anything, and eventually the officer leaves telling her "Have your fiance contact us in the next day or two, that way we can work things out, and it will make things alot easier than us coming to pick him up."
After my fiance explained everything to me (in a panic) I contacted the sherrif's department. The deputy sent to my home had left approximately 30 minutes before I called, so I asked to speak with the shift supervisor. I asked the supervisor if the deputy filed a police report that I could pickup (to try to make sense of the situation) or if I had a warrant for my arrest. The supervisor puts me on hold for several minutes, then gets back on the phone and tells me "I don't see anything her that would be pertaining to you, you will need to call back when the Deputy that came to your home is back on, which he will be at 5am."
Now I am absolutely scared out of my mind. By the sounds of things the police think they have things nailed shut and I am there guy. However I was never at the Target store on the day things took place and my fiance returned the Xbox 360 back to Target in the EXACT same condition it was in when she bought it. We didn't even take the Xbox 360 out of the packaging! 2nd Degree Retail Fraud carries up to $2,000 in fines, and up to 93 days in jail (I believe those are the right numbers anyways). If I end up being sent to jail there's a serious chance I will lose custody of my son, and we will lose our house (as I am the only one bringing in income).
I hope to god someone can shed some light on this situation. I have heard it told over and over and over again to never talk to the Police even if you're innocent since what you say can be used to accidentally incriminate yourself, regardless if you're innocent or not. But if I don't call the deputy will he come pick me up?
And I thought if they had enough evidence to charge someone with something then they HAVE to make an arrest?
At one point the deputy asked my fiance if those where the only 2 hard drives or if there was more, and that has me concerned... is it feasible they would try to get a search warrant and raid my home and leave my children to be traumatized?
The deputy will be coming back into work in 2 1/2 hours, and I am a wreck, I haven't slept in over 2 days, and I don't know if I should stay up and call him or try to get some sleep and call him later in the afternoon when I am able to think straight. I just keep thinking to myself that the last thing I want to have happen is for the police to show back up after I have only been asleep an hour or two, and for me to say something that makes me look guilty in their eyes.
I have never been in any kind of trouble for stealing in 29 years, and would not steal from anyone for any reason. I have worked long hard hours for years to keep my family together and always have a safe and stable living enviroment for my children. Now I feel like that is hanging in the balance.
First of all let me apologize in advance, I am in a very distressed state and have been awake for well over 48 hours now. So everyone knows I am in Michigan. We are a low income family, with myself, my fiance, and our two children (4 year old daughter and 7 year old son) and I can not afford to consult an attorney, and I am desperately afraid I could go to jail (which at this point would cause my family to lose our home and for me to lose custody of my Son, whom I have full custody of). My son has lived with me since he was 13 months old, and his mother has been very hard to contact, and has been absent from my son's life for over 5 years now. I am very worried about my son's well being if he is stripped away from me, his sister, and my fiance (who he has known as his "mommy" since a very early time in his life).
A few days ago we purchased a new Xbox 360 video game system from Target for our children (with help of a couple of family members). When we got home we started looking up children titles and asking our kids what games they wanted for it they requested mostly games there where only on the Wii. We decided to look for a used Nintendo Wii and eventually found a system in like new condition for significantly less than they where selling for in the stores (on craigslist). Once we lined up a Wii we returned the unused Xbox 360 to Target. My fiance returned the system after visiting a friend in the area and the next day we used the money to purchase the Wii from the seller.
Early in the day Friday a county sheriff deputy came to my home. I was not home at the time and my fiance answered the door. The deputy asked if i was home (asked for me by name). She informed him that was not home and asked if there was something she could help him with. He then started asking my fiance questions about a recent fraudulent return to Target, and started to ask her what she knew about it. She informed the officer repeatedly she had no idea what he was talking about, but he continued to question her about it. The officer eventually informed my fiance that they had video of myself as well as her returning Xbox 360 systems without the hard drive, that same day (even though I never left the house that day). She continued to explain to him that she had no idea what he was talking about. to which he replied "I can't accept that as an answer". The officer asked my fiance if she could look around and see if there where any hard drives around, she went downstairs (in my office) and saw a couple laptop hard drives on the shelf, took them to him and asked the officer "Is this it? This is the only thing I could find that looks like a computer part." The officer told her that it was, and she handed the laptop hard drives to the officer.
During the conversation he tells her things like "I know money is hard for everyone right now, I will understand if you tell me you did it because you have children" and "If your fiance calls me and works things out he is only looking at a misdemeanor and the judge might be lenient and let him off with a fine" as well as the all too cliche "If you are honest with me I might be able to help him when it's time to go to court." He also informed her that both of us where likely going to be charged with a simple misdemeanor, which is "2nd Degree Retail Fraud" (over $200 but less than $1000). According to the Michigan state laws that carries the possibility of some serious jail time and very large fines.
She continues to inform him that she doesn't know about anything, and eventually the officer leaves telling her "Have your fiance contact us in the next day or two, that way we can work things out, and it will make things alot easier than us coming to pick him up."
After my fiance explained everything to me (in a panic) I contacted the sherrif's department. The deputy sent to my home had left approximately 30 minutes before I called, so I asked to speak with the shift supervisor. I asked the supervisor if the deputy filed a police report that I could pickup (to try to make sense of the situation) or if I had a warrant for my arrest. The supervisor puts me on hold for several minutes, then gets back on the phone and tells me "I don't see anything her that would be pertaining to you, you will need to call back when the Deputy that came to your home is back on, which he will be at 5am."
Now I am absolutely scared out of my mind. By the sounds of things the police think they have things nailed shut and I am there guy. However I was never at the Target store on the day things took place and my fiance returned the Xbox 360 back to Target in the EXACT same condition it was in when she bought it. We didn't even take the Xbox 360 out of the packaging! 2nd Degree Retail Fraud carries up to $2,000 in fines, and up to 93 days in jail (I believe those are the right numbers anyways). If I end up being sent to jail there's a serious chance I will lose custody of my son, and we will lose our house (as I am the only one bringing in income).
I hope to god someone can shed some light on this situation. I have heard it told over and over and over again to never talk to the Police even if you're innocent since what you say can be used to accidentally incriminate yourself, regardless if you're innocent or not. But if I don't call the deputy will he come pick me up?
And I thought if they had enough evidence to charge someone with something then they HAVE to make an arrest?
At one point the deputy asked my fiance if those where the only 2 hard drives or if there was more, and that has me concerned... is it feasible they would try to get a search warrant and raid my home and leave my children to be traumatized?
The deputy will be coming back into work in 2 1/2 hours, and I am a wreck, I haven't slept in over 2 days, and I don't know if I should stay up and call him or try to get some sleep and call him later in the afternoon when I am able to think straight. I just keep thinking to myself that the last thing I want to have happen is for the police to show back up after I have only been asleep an hour or two, and for me to say something that makes me look guilty in their eyes.
I have never been in any kind of trouble for stealing in 29 years, and would not steal from anyone for any reason. I have worked long hard hours for years to keep my family together and always have a safe and stable living enviroment for my children. Now I feel like that is hanging in the balance.
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