Outcomes from Recent Cases

With all the inquiries about what will happen in a shoplifting case, I will give an example of two cases which I was involved in and which were resolved by the courts today.

Case #1
Male subject 18 years of age stole a shirt valued at $65. It was his first offense. He was cooperative and was issued a summons by the police and released. In court today, he pleaded guilty to the shoplifting charge and received 10 days in jail, with 10 days suspended. He was ordered to pay restitution to the store, was banned from the store for a period of a year and told that if he kept the peace and was on good behavior for a year, the state would drop the charges against him.

Case #2
Female subject, 25 years of age stole a fragrance bottle valued at $69. She had previous offenses and fought with us on the apprehension. She was charged with shoplifting and assault and battery.

Her sentence as posted on the online court system directory for the shoplifting case.

Final Disposition: Guilty
Sentence: 60 Day(s) Sentence Suspension Time: 60 Day(s)
Fine: $200.00 Cost: $186.00


For the assault and battery

Final Disposition: Guilty
Sentence: 60 Day(s) Sentence Suspension Time: 50 Day(s)
Fine: $.00 Cost: $150.00


Hopefully this is of help to people.

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Quoting bam!

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Case #2
Female subject, 25 years of age stole a fragrance bottle valued at $69. She had previous offenses and fought with us on the apprehension. She was charged with shoplifting and assault and battery.

Her sentence as posted on the online court system directory for the shoplifting case.

Final Disposition: Guilty
Sentence: 60 Day(s) Sentence Suspension Time: 60 Day(s)
Fine: $200.00 Cost: $186.00


For the assault and battery

Final Disposition: Guilty
Sentence: 60 Day(s) Sentence Suspension Time: 50 Day(s)
Fine: $.00 Cost: $150.00


Hopefully this is of help to people.

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So basically, I hope I get this right. Female subject had to pay $536.00 in fines and court cost and serve 10 days in jail?

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Quoting BlueCrystal

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So basically, I hope I get this right. Female subject had to pay $536.00 in fines and court cost and serve 10 days in jail?

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Yes, for shoplifting an item worth $69 and resisting when approached.

Very interesting! I'm going to 'go out on a limb' and guess that she'll be back in the court system in the near future...and that he never will be again.

Thank you very much for posting those, it's really helpful and gives a feel for what sentences shoplifters get. I would love to see more anecdotes like these if you have them, to try to picture an outcome for myself.
I realize that all judges/states/whatever differ and not to count on anything, but it's still a good place to start.
Thanks again.

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Quoting airhead

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. to try to picture an outcome for myself.

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Give me your scenario and I'll see if I can remember a case similiar to yours.

I would deem those sentences lenient by local (i.e., Michigan) standards, in that I would expect more probation and greater fines and assessments in a typical Michigan case.

I would be interested to soo if you can remember any cases similar to the one I mentioned in my post "Texas Sex Crime".

Thanks

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Quoting bam!

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Give me your scenario and I'll see if I can remember a case similiar to yours.

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Can someone please explain what this means:

received 10 days in jail, with 10 days suspended?

You don't have to serve the time. If you do not comply with the terms of your probation, or any other court order, then you MUST serve that time.

This is an empty way of sentencing - most misdemeanors carry a six month jail as a maximum sentence, so the Judge has discretion for a lot more time, but the Judge is promising to sentence the 10 days jails if there is any divergence from the court's orders.

Also, on theft charges, a jail sentence makes the crime priorable (punishment can be enhanced for further theft crimes).

bam-
I stole $8.68 worth of food from a local grocery store. I admitted my guilt and did everything the LP officer said and was completely honest. i am 23 and have no prior convictions/problems/anything. i have a court date for Nov and have plead guilty to misdemeanor theft. I already paid $250 in restitution to the store. I live in Idaho and I am trying to get a public defender. I appreciate any thoughts you have.

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Quoting airhead

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bam-
I stole $8.68 worth of food from a local grocery store. I admitted my guilt and did everything the LP officer said and was completely honest. i am 23 and have no prior convictions/problems/anything. i have a court date for Nov and have plead guilty to misdemeanor theft. I already paid $250 in restitution to the store. I live in Idaho and I am trying to get a public defender. I appreciate any thoughts you have.

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What you should do is ask the Public Defender (PD) if you can get some community service and/or probation. I have yet to see someone go to jail for such a small amount especially if they were cooperative and showed remorse. Do not immediately plead guilty, the LP might not show up and the case may get dropped.

You should expect fines, suspended sentence and probation. I seriously doubt that you are going to pull time if you are being completely honest here. Chalk this up as a learning experience. If the outcome that you receive in the courtroom is not favorable (you don't like it - you get jail time etc) appeal it. Scrounge up some cash and pay for a lawyer. You do not have to take the first sentence as the final answer. Good luck and try not to steal anymore.

I think you can stop worrying about going to jail. Here, in California, you could probably steal a car and not go to jail. I realize things are different there, (for a variety of reasons that are not politically correct to talk about) but I think you'll be just fine; be contrite, humble and respectful.

You'll be fine...just be honest from this day forward and sin no more....

thank you both very much. at this point i'd cut off my hands before i stole again. while i know nobody trusts a thief, my actions have really underlined the importance of a virtuous life in my head.
i already plead guilty (i had a time to set a court date, and went up to a secretary to set it, and she had me submit a plea, which kind of threw me for a loop.) about public defenders--i honestly have no money, i live at home, but when i was filling out a form for it they said 1. i may not get a public defender and 2. if i do i might have to pay.
i know little about law, but i know i have the right to a court appointed attorney if i cannot pay for one. could they really deny my request? i ask because while i personally don't have any money, my parents are more stable--however i am 23 and they have no legal obligation to pay, i would assume.
thank you