Retail Shoplifting Charge
My question involves criminal law for the state of: TN.
Hello. First of all I am on probation for Vandalism -500. One day I had been drinking all day. I decided to stop into a local retail store to try on a shirt for a friends wedding, along with looking for a few things. after trying on the shirt I realized I didn't have enough money on me for the shirt. Upon telling this to the lady helping me. She laughed at me and snickered which incredibly pissed me off. So me being stupid Took all the stuff and went toward the back exit instead of the front. I dropped all the stuff on making my exit right beside the back door. Upon circling the parking lot and heading to my vehicle a policeman and the manager from the store blocked me in. I didn't know what was going on, so I freaked. I know it was stupid but I ran from him because I was on probation and scared. He kept asking me where the stuff I stole was. I told him I left all the items in the store. They went in and found one of the items but not the other so he charged me for it anyway. I got charged with Public Intox, Resisting Stop Halt, and Shoplifting. I didn't have the items when the policeman stopped me. I guess my question is how can they charge me with shoplifting. Also every charge I've ever gotten has to do with alcohol and I've never gotten treatment for my alcoholism. Could this be an option instead of jailtime?
Re: Retail Shoplifting Charge
They can charge you with shoplifting because you took items from the sales area, did something inappropriate with them, and caused them to be lost - and since they were not recovered from the place where you say you dumped them, by all appearances you successfully removed them from the store before you were caught.
Why aren't you already in treatment for your alcoholism?