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Friend Caught Shoplifting, Afraid of Being Considered an Accomplice

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  • 12-09-2012, 04:10 PM
    Ballistic
    Friend Caught Shoplifting, Afraid of Being Considered an Accomplice
    My question involves criminal law for the state of: TEXAS

    Okay.....I'm still afraid and hard to focus on my books.....
    Before I say something, I'm staying in US via F1 visa, as an 18 years old international student.

    Today, My 2 friends and I went to Target. My friend said he was looking for a duck tape.
    After he found it, he torn the cover vinyl off and used it for tieing his crutches.
    After he tied the rubber-cap of crutch with the duck tape, he just threw the tape and vinyl away to the other shelf and we got out from there.

    I was with him from the beginning to the end of the event. (not only me but all 3 of us)
    At first, when he was tearing the vinyl off,
    I thought he was urgent and trying to use(tie) it and then pay it later to the cashier. (the floor was slippery so it was hard for him to move)
    I stood near my friend and the other friend helped him to tie the rubber-cap.
    I didn't help him to tear the vinyl off neither tieing, I didn't check if the employee was coming, I did not touch the duck tape neither knew he was going to throw that.
    But after he tied the rubber tip of his crutches he just threw duck tape away to the other shelf(which is in the Target inside).
    I asked him with a lifting arm gesture, 'You are not gonna pay for this?' and he just said 'shush, be quiet'.
    and we went out.

    Now here's my question
    1. Would Target employee sees me as an accomplice?
    2. If so, how can I prove(or defend) that I didn't know what he was going to do and not part of his bad act?
    3. What should I do??

    I'm so confused and afraid please help me.....
    Thank you all...
  • 12-09-2012, 04:20 PM
    aardvarc
    Re: Afraid to Be Considered As an Accomplice
    Quote:

    1. Would Target employee sees me as an accomplice?
    More important, would POLICE? And yes, if you stood there and watched it, you're at risk of arrest as accomplice.


    Quote:

    2. If so, how can I prove(or defend) that I didn't know what he was going to do and not part of his bad act?
    You stood there and watched it happen. You then exited the store. It doesn't matter that you didn't have prior knowledge of what was going to happen.


    Quote:

    3. What should I do??
    If police question you or charge you with a crime, exercise your rights to remain silent and contact a criminal defense attorney.

    And for God's sake, stop hanging around these friends before they do something ELSE that could put you in hot water just be being in their company.
  • 12-09-2012, 05:30 PM
    Ballistic
    Re: Afraid to Be Considered As an Accomplice
    Gosh, I never knew these guys would act like this.....
    So, should I live my life under worrying til I die??? sigh....
  • 12-09-2012, 06:04 PM
    That Guy
    Re: Afraid to Be Considered As an Accomplice
    Quote:

    Quoting Ballistic
    View Post
    So, should I live my life under worrying til I die???

    No, not for that long... For just about another year or so. Until the statute of limitations for petty theft expires.

    Until then, there is nothing that you CAN do that would change any of what's happened.

    The only advice that you could benefit from has already been given by Catherine:

    If police question you or charge you with a crime, exercise your rights to remain silent and contact a criminal defense attorney.

    And for God's sake, stop hanging around these friends before they do something ELSE that could put you in hot water just be being in their company.
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