Caught Shoplifting at Walmart with a Friend

[bubberdub108]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Ohio.

Okay so this will probably be pretty long, but I want to make sure people know everything I know before answering.
First off, me and my two friends are all 16 years old.
Story: A few days ago, me and two friends were at Walmart. My one friend said, "Oh, I need some new mascara." and grabbed one off the shelf and put it in her purse. I didn't think it'd be that big of a deal and grabbed some hair dye and eventually put it in her purse. That girl and the other friend were saying that they were thirsty so we went to the grocery section, got a chocolate milk and put that in her purse too. In total, we tried to steal about $13 and some odd cents worth of merchandise. I bought a box of candy for $1 and we started to walk out, then the Loss Prevention people confronted us and we didn't hear what the guy said (we thought he was a random guy asking for directions or something), and the other guy made my friend take the stuff out of her purse. They let my other friend go since she wasn't really involved, but they knew me and the girl with the purse had stolen. We were then taken into the security room or whatever and they took down all of our information and asked us a few questions.

Now here's one part where I'm confused: I had my ID and gave it to them, but my friend doesn't have one. They said that if she would've had an ID, they wouldn't have had to charge us (I THINK that's what he said but I kind of forget since I was so nervous.) Anyway, they called our moms, and the cops also came and got our information, but that's all they did (no mugshot, finger prints, or taking us to the station). We went home with our parents, none of us signed anything, and they said we'd be getting something in the mail. AND he said that we couldn't be in the any WalMart stores without a parent until we are 18 (or 21... I forget).

Also while we were in there, the guy who spoke mostly said that my friend would get the worst of it since the stuff was in her purse. He said our punishment would depend on the judge.

Now here are my questions:

1. How long will it take to receive something in the mail (whatever they said they'll be sending us).
2. What are they sending in the mail?
3. Is a lawyer really necessary to take to court?
4. How less severe will my punishment be compared to the girl whose purse the merchandise was in?
5. I get about a 3.9-4.0 GPA in school, so would it help to like bring a report card to court to show the judge. (I read online that having good grades can help you a lot.)

One last thing. Before answering, please don't be cocky and rude like a lot of what I've seen on here. Teenagers make mistakes and life goes on. The way I saw it, was that WalMart is a big corporation with A LOT of money and it wouldn't hurt them too bad if two lower class teenagers took mascara, hair dye, and chocolate milk. I've never done anything like this (this is my first offense) and don't plan on it ever again. Thank you for reading and answering!

I'm a guy by the way, not a girl...

[jk]

sorry but I hate long stories so I'll just his the questions.

1. How long will it take to receive something in the mail (whatever they said they'll be sending us).

as long as it takes, seriously. It may come tomorrow. It may not come for months. They could have a change of heart and decide not to send it.

2. What are they sending in the mail?

it's called a civil demand. Basically, it's a bill. They are allowed to "fine" you. I do not know how much your state allows offhand though.

3. Is a lawyer really necessary to take to court?

necessary/ no. great idea/ absolutely

4. How less severe will my punishment be compared to the girl whose purse the merchandise was in?

why should your penalty be any less? You were all equally responsible for the theft even if only the one girl had it in her purse. Remember, you put something in there as well.

5. I get about a 3.9-4.0 GPA in school, so would it help to like bring a report card to court to show the judge. (I read online that having good grades can help you a lot.)

actually it might result in the judge saying:

If you are so smart, why are you here in front of me for doing something so dumb!!!!

good grades mean nothing more than you got good grades. It means nothing as far as your personal morals are concerned. You have proven that a smart girl can be a thief too.

[PandorasBox]

"The way I saw it, was that WalMart is a big corporation with A LOT of money and it wouldn't hurt them too bad if two lower class teenagers took mascara, hair dye, and chocolate milk".

That's where you are wrong. Shoplifting costs retailers BILLIONS of dollars per year. That results in higher prices for the honest people. http://money.cnn.com/2009/11/10/news...cession_theft/

In the end, expect court costs and fines; the Civil Demand. Congratulations, that hair dye is now going to cost your parents $1000+.

[flyingron]

Many +, I suspect they'll be close to $3000 by the time this gets done.

[bubberdub108]

And I bet BILLIONS of dollars is only a small fraction of what the company makes per year. Congratulations, you did exactly what I asked people not to. People come here for help, not to be scolded by annoying dicks who think it's their job to teach everyone a lesson. I REALLY doubt it will cost more than about $500, even though the cost was not one of my five questions.

[PandorasBox]

You want to know about retail?

There is this date called BLACK FRIDAY. It is the day after Thanksgiving. This is the date where retailers expect to finally see profit.

You see....while it seems they make a fortune, there are a lot of costs.
- Purchase of inventory.
- Cost of employees, their benefits.
- Cost of the building and property, and maintenance.
- Cost of all those security cameras, cash registers, counters.....
Just for a few examples.

As for you think it will be less than $1000.....sorry kid. Civil demand. Court costs and fines. Guess what? If you get Community Service, you get to pay for it. And you might end up with an Anti-Shoplifting class that you to attend.....

[cbg]

Congratulations, you did exactly what I asked people not to

When you post on a public board asking perfect strangers to volunteer their expertise for free because you didn't have enough sense to remember that stealing is wrong, you don't get to dictate who answers or how.

[jk]

I REALLY doubt it will cost more than about $500, even though the cost was not one of my five questions.

I seriously suspect you are incorrect. I would bet your civil forfeiture is close to that. Then you have the actual court fine that is possible (not bothering to look that up for ya) as well as the court costs (easily $500 bucks alone), and if you are on probation, there could be a fee for that..

and all that isn't included the cost of an attorney. You aren't going to get an attorney to get out of bed for that $500.

[PandorasBox]

I looked up the Civil Demand in Ohio. Maximum fine on that alone is $1000 and the possibility of 6 months jail. I do not see a minimum amount. If he shoplifts again, it can go up to $2500.

Kiddo....I'm not perfect either.

I had an Open Container violation. $450 for the pleasure of doing Community Service.

I shoplifted: Trust me when I say $1000 will be the minimum, if you are lucky.

But if you go in front of the judge with the attitude you are displaying.....it will be a lot more....

[bubberdub108]

The total amount of money I had to pay was $50 for a "Stop Shoplifting" class. And I have to do 25 hours of community service, but I only have 9 left and I go whenever I want to, as long as I get it done by August 27. WalMart didn't "Civilly demand" anything so pretty much all of you are wrong just to know.