ExpertLaw.com Forums

Can You be Charged With Theft Over Stealing While Too Drunk to Remember What You Did

Printable View

  • 12-16-2015, 06:09 PM
    Ledos
    Can You be Charged With Theft Over Stealing While Too Drunk to Remember What You Did
    My question involves criminal law for the state of: Ohio

    One night, while drinking at a bar, I had too much and do not remember most of the last hour or so I was there. I do vaguely remember a girl being upset that her bag was found in the men's room, soaking wet and missing $20.00. I apparently felt bad for her because I gave her $20.00. I am not a big drinker so I was in a blackout and these memories are very very cloudy.

    The next day, a friend who works at the bar told me that they had watched the camera to see who it was who had taken the bag into the bathroom, and it was me. I have no recollection of doing this.

    When I was younger (about 6 years ago), I did something similar. I was very drunk at a house party on campus and stole some money, but I remembered doing it though I never did find what I did with it. I kind of got caught at that and some friends disowned me and complained to police. Nothing ended up coming from it.

    I am unsure what to do. What can I be charged with? I don't know the girl, but I am willing and eager to do whatever I can to set it right, but I am scared she might press charges. I am assuming that I didn't take her money, or if I did, I didn't know what I was doing because I clearly gave the money that was stolen 15 minutes later. Does that count as theft? Is it destruction of property? I don't know what to do.
  • 12-16-2015, 06:14 PM
    jk
    Re: What Happens if I Returned Money I Didn't Know I Stole While Drunk
    You can be charged with theft. Given there is video evidence of it it's a pretty good chance you would be convicted.

    There isnt a lot you you can do. Given the girl didn't actually lose anything (you gave her back her own $20, right?) it would be unlikely anythng more will come of this.

    If if nobody called the cops that night, I doubt it would go anywhere from here.
  • 12-16-2015, 09:00 PM
    Taxing Matters
    Re: Can You be Charged With Theft Over Stealing While Too Drunk to Remember What You
    If you took the money then it’s theft. Returning the stolen property later does not undo the crime. And as her bag was soaking wet you likely also would face some additional charge for destruction of property if her bag or the things in them were damaged by the water (or whatever liquid it was). Being drunk does not get you out of the crime, either. The basic premise in most states is that since you voluntarily got yourself drunk you are still responsible for the things you do while drunk. If you get charged with a crime out of this then see an attorney to help you get the best outcome possible. With a good video the prosecution would likely have a strong case. But if the police were not called by the bar staff after viewing the video then it’s unlikely that anything will be done now. If you don’t get charged, consider yourself rather lucky. It probably goes without saying but since this has happened twice you really need to avoid getting even remotely close to being drunk.
  • 12-17-2015, 07:21 AM
    adjusterjack
    Re: Can You be Charged With Theft Over Stealing While Too Drunk to Remember What You
    Quote:

    Quoting Ledos
    View Post
    I don't know what to do.

    Stop drinking.

    You're obviously a black-out drunk who hasn't learned a thing from at least two episodes.
  • 12-17-2015, 08:04 AM
    Disagreeable
    Re: Can You be Charged With Theft Over Stealing While Too Drunk to Remember What You
    You could also be charged with public intoxication.
  • 12-17-2015, 09:20 AM
    flyingron
    Re: Can You be Charged With Theft Over Stealing While Too Drunk to Remember What You
    There's no such crime as "public intoxication" in Ohio. Just being intoxicated in public is not a crime. You have to meet the further standards of disorderly conduct:

    ORC 2917.11

    (B) No person, while voluntarily intoxicated, shall do either of the following:

    (1) In a public place or in the presence of two or more persons, engage in conduct likely to be offensive or to cause inconvenience, annoyance, or alarm to persons of ordinary sensibilities, which conduct the offender, if the offender were not intoxicated, should know is likely to have that effect on others;

    (2) Engage in conduct or create a condition that presents a risk of physical harm to the offender or another, or to the property of another.
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 06:21 AM.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.4
Copyright © 2023 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2004 - 2018 ExpertLaw.com, All Rights Reserved