First Time Offense, Petty Theft, Kohl's, New Jersey

My question involves criminal law for the state of: New Jersey

I am 20 years old.

I exited a Kohl's store today with unpaid items, and I was promptly asked by a Loss Prevention person to follow him to an office, which I did. I gave up the shoplifted items, a pair swimsuit bottoms and a pair of socks (from a two-pack).

I gave him my license, and he did a lot of paperwork.

I have never gotten in trouble with the law before (besides a few traffic tickets), and I was extremely nervous this whole time. It was now that I realized I also had two other pairs of socks in my pockets, and I didn't know what to do because I didn't know if he was going to check my pockets, so in my nervousness and stupidity, I dropped them on the ground and put them under his desk while he was doing the paperwork.

I signed a statement saying that I agree that going to any Kohl's stores in the future will be criminal trespassing. The total combined cost of the items came out to be about $35.

He said that I will receive a letter in about two weeks, for a court date.

On our way out, he looked back and saw the two pairs of socks under his desk. He said, "You know you're going to have to pay for those, too, right? The ones you just threw under my desk." And I said, "Yes. I'm sorry, I was feeling so nervous that I didn't know what to do." He said, "Okay, you can tell that to the judge."

The thing is (and he didn't know this), those socks were two pairs from a three-pack, and not related to the first pair of socks from the two-pack. (I feel like these are moot details, anyway.)

I feel so ashamed of my actions, and I'm wondering what actions to take now.

I googled as much as I could about shoplifting.
I read a lot of information about deferred prosecution and deferred judgement.
from http://www.experiencedcriminallawyer...rred-judgment/

1) Does the process of finding out if I qualify for deferred prosecution/judgement begin before I go to court for the first time?
2) If I go to court alone, will my chances of getting deferred prosecution/judgement be slim?
3) Will a public defender be sufficient, or will I want a criminal lawyer?
4) What else do I need to know?

Thank you for your time and help, I am feeling so anxious about all of this help because I have not gotten in serious trouble with the law before.

Ya know, when you say three times how this is your only time with the law, it makes me start to wonder....

Anyway, did you read the sticky?

Sorry, I guess, I didn't know I mentioned it that many times. Regardless, I don't think there's much point to lie about that to you guys. (But yes, I told the truth.)

And yes, I did read the stickies. I understand courtroom presence, I have applied for the free consultations, I did google the laws in my state.

Question: When in court, does the prosecutor (or anyone) mention (by name or description) the specific items that were taken?

Thank you.

What was your outcome? I am in a similar situation, with Kohl's as well, hopefully everything turned out well?

They will have photos of the items you stole, and the LP's will testify.

It's been one week and two days, and I got the civil claim letter two days ago. Still no court date, though.

As a general question, will the shoplifted items in questions play any role in this whole ordeal? (Other than the monetary value.)

Also, how should I go about going for deferred judgement/prosecution?

Thanks for the help guys.

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Quoting Newman1

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It's been one week and two days, and I got the civil claim letter two days ago. Still no court date, though.

As a general question, will the shoplifted items in questions play any role in this whole ordeal? (Other than the monetary value.)

Also, how should I go about going for deferred judgement/prosecution?

Thanks for the help guys.

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Generally, what you stole has no bearing on the criminal case. The only exception I have ever seen is a first time offender who stole food to feed their family. They did not get off but got a much reduced sentence. Socks and a swimsuit bottom do not constitute life or death necessities.

You seek deferred adjudication, or whatever Jersey uses, by having your attorney contact the prosecutor to discuss a plea. Or if you are choosing to represent yourself, you contact the prosecutor's office to see what you need to do.

Where do I get the number of the prosecutor's office from? Do I wait for the notice of the court hearing?

Quote:

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Quoting Newman1

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Where do I get the number of the prosecutor's office from? Do I wait for the notice of the court hearing?

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Reading your post, it sounds like no police were involved at the time you were stopped, correct? Best place to start would be to google it or look in the phone book. Or yeah, you can wait for the notice.