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What Are the Chances of Being Charged for Stealing Beer

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  • 05-30-2015, 04:48 PM
    Geos
    What Are the Chances of Being Charged for Stealing Beer
    My question involves criminal law for the state of: Montana, I am 18 years of age, I know what I did was wrong and I have learned from my mistakes but there is nothing I can do about what has already happened.

    Last night me and my friends thought it would be a good idea to steal some beer from a supermarket for a party we were invited to (I know, we're stupid). Me, and one other kid went inside while everyone else waited in the car by the front door. I grabbed two thirty racks of beer (approximately $50) and he grabbed one. We walked out casually then we noticed that an employee had starting chasing us so we jumped in the car and peeled out while he was yelling at us to get back inside. After about an hour we found out the party was actually cancelled so I just asked for a ride home, I took the two thirty racks with me and went to bed. When my friends were driving back into town they got pulled over by a police officer because the supermarket called in the license plates. They were all breathalyzed and all of them were above the legal limit for people under the age of 21. The officer knew what had happened and my one friend confessed that he was the one that actually stole the case, he was put in handcuffs and had to sit in the back of the cop car and he got a theft charge and a Minor in Possession citation. He panicked when the officer asked him who the other person was that stole the cases and he gave him my name but nothing else. The weird thing is is that no one else got an MIP or DUI even though they clearly should have. The officer mentioned to my friend that it would be a good idea if I turned myself in, otherwise there may be a warrant out for my arrest. I'm hoping the Police do not put in all the effort to actually try and find me. I don't plan on talking to the police and my intentions were to try and avoid this whole situation because I'm leaving the country in two weeks for a two week long period, then in August I'm moving about 8 hours away to attend College (in-state). I graduate in 5 days and I feel like the only way I am going to get caught is if they go to the High School and pull me out of class or something. If this happens my plan was to deny everything and request a lawyer. The officer also told my friends that they had a surveillance video but I'm pretty sure I kept my head down the entire time so it would be hard to identify me on camera.

    So my questions are What's the best advice I could get to handle a situation like this and avoid any citations? If I get caught, will I just get a theft charge and not an MIP because they have no proof that I actually have the beer in my possession? Should I not go to school and avoid the chance that they will actually find me? What are the best things I can say if I am questioned about this? Should I tell my friends to act as if they forgot who was in the car? Do you think the cops will actually try and put in all the effort to find me?

    I just really need advice because my parents would kill me if they found out what I did and I don't want to ruin any future job oppurtunities and tarnish my record.

    Thanks a lot for any advice! Sorry that the story is so long.
  • 05-30-2015, 08:24 PM
    harrylime
    Re: Potential Theft Charge and MIP
    I think that you should tell your parents so that they realize what a little jerk they've raised.
  • 05-30-2015, 08:41 PM
    Mr. Knowitall
    Re: What Are the Chances of Being Charged for Stealing Beer
    Nobody here is a psychic. You chose to commit a crime, and only time will tell if you are criminally charged as a result.
  • 05-31-2015, 06:27 AM
    cbg
    Re: What Are the Chances of Being Charged for Stealing Beer
    Sorry, but I don't volunteer here to tell stupid little jerks who thought it was a good idea to turn themselves into thieves how to avoid having to suffer any consequences for their stupid little decisions. As far as I'm concerned the best possible solution would be if your friends threw you under the bus.
  • 05-31-2015, 08:11 AM
    PTPD22
    Re: What Are the Chances of Being Charged for Stealing Beer
    Ok, so some pretty harsh responses here, and I agree with the others in principle. But, let me try to answer some of your questions and reply directly to some of your comments anyway.

    Quote:

    Quoting Geos
    View Post
    My question involves criminal law for the state of: Montana, I am 18 years of age, I know what I did was wrong and I have learned from my mistakes but there is nothing I can do about what has already happened.

    First off, what you did was not a “mistake.” You took deliberate action and accomplished your established goal…you stole beer to facilitate you and your “friends” underage drinking. You deliberately committed a crime (knowing it was a crime) in order to have the resources to commit another crime (knowing that that too was a crime). That is not a mistake. I truly hope that you have learned from this lapse of judgment and poor life decision, but please do not try to trivialize it by calling it a “mistake.” As for not being able to do anything about “what has already happened,” I again disagree. You could, for example, make amends by going back to the store and paying for the loot you stole. Yes, that would be an admission of guilt and likely subject you to even further consequences (civil restitution demands, criminal prosecution, etc.). But, it is just one example of something you could do to make up for “what has already happened.”

    Quote:

    Quoting Geos
    View Post
    The officer knew what had happened and my one friend confessed that he was the one that actually stole the case, he was put in handcuffs and had to sit in the back of the cop car and he got a theft charge and a Minor in Possession citation. He panicked when the officer asked him who the other person was that stole the cases and he gave him my name but nothing else. The weird thing is is that no one else got an MIP or DUI even though they clearly should have.

    Sounds like the cop gave your friends a break and decided to only focus on the perceived “ringleader” who was not only MIP, but a confessed thief.

    Quote:

    Quoting Geos
    View Post
    The officer mentioned to my friend that it would be a good idea if I turned myself in, otherwise there may be a warrant out for my arrest.

    Quite possible. And, yes, turning yourself in and showing true contrition could go a long way toward more lenient consequences. On the other hand, it could have just been a bluff that the cop doesn’t intend to follow up on…it is a gamble for you either way.

    Quote:

    Quoting Geos
    View Post
    I graduate in 5 days and I feel like the only way I am going to get caught is if they go to the High School and pull me out of class or something.

    They already know who you are. You don’t think the cops can find out where you live? Or, less effort yet, just get an arrest warrant put in the system and just wait for your next contact with a police officer (for ANY reason)?

    Quote:

    Quoting Geos
    View Post
    If this happens my plan was to deny everything and request a lawyer. The officer also told my friends that they had a surveillance video but I'm pretty sure I kept my head down the entire time so it would be hard to identify me on camera.

    Rather than lie to compound your already established lapse of moral character, might I suggest you simply make no statement and request a lawyer? As for the video, are you really banking on your “pretty sure” that you avoided the camera? Even if you kept your head down, your buddy already gave you up. Think anyone at the store could identify you from your high school yearbook picture if the cops showed it to them???

    Quote:

    Quoting Geos
    View Post
    So my questions are What's the best advice I could get to handle a situation like this and avoid any citations? If I get caught, will I just get a theft charge and not an MIP because they have no proof that I actually have the beer in my possession?

    Ummmm….well there is that little bit of video evidence SHOWING you in possession of the beer you stole. And witness testimony from both the store employees and your buddies. I think you can bet on being charged with both.

    Quote:

    Quoting Geos
    View Post
    Should I not go to school and avoid the chance that they will actually find me?

    The only thing you would be avoiding is school. If the cops are coming after you, staying away from school is not going to help you.

    Quote:

    Quoting Geos
    View Post
    What are the best things I can say if I am questioned about this?

    Already answered above. Ask for an attorney.

    Quote:

    Quoting Geos
    View Post
    Should I tell my friends to act as if they forgot who was in the car?

    Are you actually asking us if your should compound your ethical vacuum by suborning perjury from your “friends”???

    Quote:

    Quoting Geos
    View Post
    Do you think the cops will actually try and put in all the effort to find me?

    Nobody but those cops can answer that question. You rolled the dice, now you take your chances.

    Quote:

    Quoting Geos
    View Post
    I just really need advice because my parents would kill me if they found out what I did and I don't want to ruin any future job oppurtunities and tarnish my record.

    The proper time for those concerns was BEFORE you decided to go on your little crime spree. Now, after the dirty deed is done, is the time to show that you actually HAVE learned something from having that little ball of fear in your belly regarding the potential consequences of your actions. Your choices are as follows:
    1. You can do the morally upright thing. That would be to take responsibility for your decisions and actions by telling your parents, reimbursing the store for its loss, and hope you can convince the prosecutor that this was a one-time lapse of judgment.
    2. Bury your head in the sand and hope that the cops don’t think your escapades are worth the minimal effort it would take to forward your case to a prosecutor. Or,
    3. Take this as a learning experience for how to be a more successful criminal in the future (I don’t recommend this choice at all – You don’t seem to have any natural talent for it (which is a complement, by the way) and probably wouldn’t do well in prison).
  • 05-31-2015, 06:20 PM
    plainsndn
    Re: What Are the Chances of Being Charged for Stealing Beer
    Admitting and realizing your wrong doesn't align with feeling you should be exempt from any punishment you accrue. Sounded promising at the beginning, but then you started getting worse and worse as you kept writing. You're a big boy now at 18 and it doesn't matter that you're still in high school. Obviously your friend rolled on you (thankfully) and now you're at risk for being arrested. I would count on being pursued and you should NEVER count on getting off scot-free because it's a waste of resources. Like what??? That's their JOB. I'd recommend looking through the phone books and scheduling some consultations with some lawyers as soon as you can. You have something to worry about now and you best believe that this probably won't be ignored, as there is no incentive for you to get a free pass.

    Can't estimate what punishment you might get as you haven't been arrested or cited yet.
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