Caught Shoplifting, Warned by the Police and Banned from the Store

Im 20 years old and recently i was with a friend who is 19 and we went to Wallmart in Parma Ohio. we both took about 55$ Worth of Merch and tried to walk out the door. the security guard followed us out the door and said we need to come back inside with him and he got back all the items we took. He called the police because it was over 25$ when the police got their they took our information and tried their best to answer out questions but im really paranoid. am i going to go to jail This is my first ticket and first offense and im just really scared at what is to come. the police didnt arrest us their because he thought the items that were tried to take were embarrassing enough we got a warning that if we steal again from wallmart that we will be banned. Im really regreating leaving my house at all last night :wallbang: and i really feel stupid for trying to steal. This is a real wake up call for me but i just dont know what going to happen to us both... What are our fines going to be? are we going to jail? is community service possible. what do i really do im so scared please help!

You aren't likely to go to jail for a first offense shoplifting charge. You are probably looking at fines, community service, probation or some mix thereof. DO NOT plead guilty without at least speaking to an attorney. Plead not guilty at your arraignment and ask for a public defender, if you are eligible.

You can also expect a civil demand letter from WalMart, which is separate from the criminal charge. I'm not familiar with Ohio so I don't know how much it might be but I would expect a couple hundred dollars.

Thank you I dont really know whats going to happen i also don't have a job so if i could do just community service and maybe a small fine im ok with that. I really dont wanna go to jail but like you said its not likely I cant afford a lawyer though again i say im very broke

You're going to have to be okay with whatever the judge says whether it's convenient for you or not.

A criminal record may come back to bite you for decades.....some states have alternate disposition programs for first offenders ..but I very strongly suggest you use experienced paid counsel up front .

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Quoting Zinga

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the police didnt arrest us their because he thought the items that were tried to take were embarrassing enough

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Either the police warned you without citing you for shoplifting, or they warned you and cited you instead of arresting you.

If you have not been cited or criminally charged, and the police indicated that they were not pursuing charges, then the odds are that no criminal charge is going to be filed.

I just honestly hope the punishment for Parma ohio isnt too bad.

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Quoting free9man

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You aren't likely to go to jail for a first offense shoplifting charge.

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Absolutely true in most places. Absolutely UNTRUE in Parma, OH.

Unless they've changed their law, their city theft ordinance specifies a minimum of 24 hours in jail for a theft offense.

OP didn't go to jail because Parma PD usually cites and releases when the SL has ID and the case isn't a felony.

Many people have went to Parma court thinking "Yeah, I'm gonna pay a fine, maybe get a few hours of community service," only to hear "2 days in jail - bailiff, can you take her downstairs to the jail?" The "oh S***" expression on their faces is priceless every time.

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Quoting DeputyDog

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Absolutely true in most places. Absolutely UNTRUE in Parma, OH.

Unless they've changed their law, their city theft ordinance specifies a minimum of 24 hours in jail for a theft offense.

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Learn something new every day. Guess it happens in some places as a tough love measure.

It was mainly because about 20 years ago the city just got really sick of shoplifters and some city council person at the time started a debate on how much they were hurting the businesses - and thus the city's tax base - so this was passed as a "we've got to do something" initiative.

The Wal-Mart that OP was caught stealing from sits on the site of what USED to be a mall that provided a big tax base for the city. The mall has since closed, Macy's is gone, along with most of the other stores, and the whole site is being repurposed and set up around the new Wal-Mart.

I wouldn't be surprised if they don't at some point repeal the mandatory jail time since retail isn't at all to the city what it used to be. But I haven't heard that they've done so yet, and as recently as a year or two ago, I was hearing from retail LP contacts in the city that the jail time was still being given to every SL.