Stole 350 in DVDs from Ohio Target

Ok everyone I need tips or advice. I got stopped at a University Heights (Cleveland Ohio area) Target and was found with 350 worth of dvds (5 sets). I will admit I stole a dvd set before (about 5-6 months) and when I got into their office they said they knew I took that dvd set before. My question is when the police came to issue my ticket and court date the ticket only had what was stolen that day. In court can I show up to a different case with the dvd they saw me take about 6 months ago? This is my first thing on my record and I have no idea what to expect. For the past 4 years I volunteer 500+ hours a year so will he not consider this for me because I already do it and go straight to jail time? I'm a teenager. Sorry for any typos I'm writing this from my phone.

Oh one more question. My trial date is Jan 23rd and does your sentence for jail or probation start on that day? I have to be out of state from Feb 9th till the 22nd and not sure if I should try to change my trial date to after this or before and it won't matter?
Thanks

You can only be charged for what you had at the time of arrest (yeah bam, arrest). Get a lawyer to help with the details and setting up new court dates, make this a wake up call dude you may not be so lucky later on.

Quote:

---

Quoting PaulE

---

You can only be charged for what you had at the time of arrest (yeah bam, arrest).

---

Awesome, someone got arrested.

If you confessed to stealing the prior box set, you can expect the prosecutor to be made aware of that prior confession even if you aren't charged for the prior incident.

The only way they can charge you with first theft is if they still have the evidence! That would be video tape etc which is doubtful. did you admit to first theft or did they say they saw you steal before? Either way since ticket only has the one theft thats all you will be charged with. Statue of limitations has not run out of other theft so yes at a later date they can charge you for other theft either by adding to current case or whole new case! Once again that is very doubtful!

Eyewitness testimony is evidence.

I agree but if they had eye witiness why not charge and arrest him then? My guess is they lacked all the elements to make a stop on first theft. If they had all they needed they would have made stop then. So I would suspect no new charges are forthcoming but it is a possiblity

They could say that they tried to apprehend him and he ran, so they waited for him to come back.

Yes but OP never stated there was a "near miss" he merely stated and admitted to a prior theft. One can "assume" (yes I said assume) based on OP's post there was no near miss. I could be wrong.

You think they were just guessing, and got lucky? Somebody saw something. That, coupled with a confession, is plenty to achieve a conviction.

I guess the question now is will he be charged? If so will charge be added to current charge or will he face new charges and possible second offense?

"you have the right to remain silent."

when you're arrested and the cop or LP mentions a prior incident, mum's the word until you can consult with a lawyer.

sure, it's a good idea to give up your name, address, and phone number. but hold off on giving out anymore info until you can contact a lawyer. and especially keep your mouth shut when it's just you and the LP. hand over your info when the cops get there and try avoiding letting the LP know your social security number.

Quote:

---

Quoting BustedMonkey

---

"you have the right to remain silent."

when you're arrested and the cop or LP mentions a prior incident, mum's the word until you can consult with a lawyer.

sure, it's a good idea to give up your name, address, and phone number. but hold off on giving out anymore info until you can contact a lawyer. and especially keep your mouth shut when it's just you and the LP. hand over your info when the cops get there and try avoiding letting the LP know your social security number.

---

Good point, or just keep your mouth shut altogether and force them to call the police. You do not have to answer any questions they ask you. But, when you go to court, they might try to pin you as being uncooperative, so make sure you have a good lawyer, or excuse as to why you didn't hand over your ID.

Giving LP your socail wont hurt anything as they are not going to tie it to anything. However it was not wise to give up so much info on your past theft. Not being willing to give your info makes you uncooperative and many LP's are told to put that in report!

Quote:

---

Quoting PaulE

---

You can only be charged for what you had at the time of arrest (yeah bam, arrest). Get a lawyer to help with the details and setting up new court dates, make this a wake up call dude you may not be so lucky later on.

---

I must respectfully disagree.....we popped a fitting room booster last Friday who'd ran from us twice, had a car waiting curbside once, and had real good video of him entering 'skinny' and exiting 'fat' 4 times during the last 7 weeks or so...he'd wear team sports apparel out under his clothes. When we arrested him after about a quarter-mile chase(door tagged by PD's Crown Vic) he got charged with that (felony) offense, the 3 where he got away, and the other 4(we'd recovered the tags out of the fiting room on those occasions).

.....8 seperate felony counts. Plus the perp already had a rap sheet that could paper about a mile of 4-lane highway with!

All PD's are different, some will only charge if there was a formal report on file of the previous thefts and even then, they may make you take out your own warrants for them at the magistrates office.

I never signed anything that said I took something before. He said "i dont think that should be a problem" and nothing of it was said again. He was really nice to me, gave me some food and we talked. He said I was one of 4 shoplifters he wishes he could help out. Do you think his attitude towards me was just a act and will be very harsh in court?

Also I still dont understand how sentences work. If my court date is Jan 23rd and I have to be out of town feb 9-23rd should I try to change my court date till after that?

Another question is if the Judge asks about the dvd set from before what should I say or even say anything?

Doesnt someone here work with Target and has the ability to look up reports and cases?

thanks eveyone!

Quote:

---

Quoting ohionclcruiser

---

I never signed anything that said I took something before.They dont need it they have eye witineses and video He said "i dont think that should be a problem" and nothing of it was said again. He was really nice to me, gave me some food and we talked. He said I was one of 4 shoplifters he wishes he could help out. Do you think his attitude towards me was just a act and will be very harsh in court?He doesnt need to be harsh all he needs to do is testify to what he saw and if he is smart he will have his report with him

Also I still dont understand how sentences work. If my court date is Jan 23rd and I have to be out of town feb 9-23rd should I try to change my court date till after that? Your sentence could be probation or jail you need an Attorney

Another question is if the Judge asks about the dvd set from before what should I say or even say anything?Do not lie on stand unless you want to face purgery charges

Doesnt someone here work with Target and has the ability to look up reports and cases?If a Target AP or anyone gave you that info they would be fired forget it!

thanks eveyone!

---

You need to consult with an Attorney before your court date!

Quote:

---

Quoting panther10758

---

You need to consult with an Attorney before your court date!

---

If we cannot afford one and we have to request one from the court do we do that on the court date? Im still confused if this first date is just for a plea then I have to come back or not.

thanks

video of PaulE at work

http://youtube.com/watch?v=SFlo7o-Z0i8

"Get those carts in boy!"

Cleaver, did the boss let you post between coffee runs?? You're a great one to post in a thread telling someone not to show in court, then cry to aaron to get it pulled when I called you on it. See aaron, I'm not the only one here stirring the pot here, the village idiot from Virginia does his share.

By the way bam, wasn't that your old lady sittin' there taping? I'm surprised she could run the camcorder and stuff Krispy Kreams into her mouth at the same time.

You can tell judge you cannot afford an Attorney and you would like a court applointed one. Then your case will be set for another date and you will be given instructions on how to get a PD

Think logically. If you were an illegal and you were caught shoplifting and released, would you stick around for court? If you say "yes" you are lying.

Where I agree with your reasonning this is a site for legal advice! Telling someone to commit yet another offense is NOT legal advice

Quote:

---

Quoting panther10758

---

Where I agree with your reasonning this is a site for legal advice! Telling someone to commit yet another offense is NOT legal advice

---

Ok, point taken.