Got caught switching price tags in California

last friday i got caught swtiching price tags at macys. like everyone else i got taken info down copy of driver license, etc. i pleaded guilty to the lady right then and there. she said since this is my first offense i will recieve a civil demand and then a court letter. she said i just need to pay for the fees or ask for payment plan. it should be no more than a misdemeanor...like getting a speeding ticket or soemthing. if the lady tol dme this several times does that mean i will be fine just have to pay the fees. the goods were $156. please someone fill me in on what is likely to happen.

1st off speeding tickets are infractions not midemenaors. You are facing criminal charges and you shoul dnot be making uneducated decisions. Contact a criminal defense Attorney see if he will grant you a free office visit

no thats why i'm clueless... i kept on asking the LP lady over and over again and that was what she was comparing it to. sorry but i wasn't making any uneducated guess. the LP lady said i did not need to make and attorney calls but do you think i should? she said i will get fine by macys and my the court and that was all...once again these are the exact words she told me

The "LP Lady" is not an attorney! She is not educated in criminal law she only knows shoplifting laws. You need to consult an Attorney! Did you pay for items at lowered price? Were stopped before you payed? These are important questions. Yes you need to call an Attorney your a fool not to.

yea i paid for the items at a lower price and go caught after i paid....i just called a law office and talked to them...he said i wouldnt go to jail or anything and told me what might possible happen...i didnt get the chance to tell him that i got caught after i paid for the item but i was still in the store....they walked right up to me....he told me to call him after i get my letter for a consultation...

how much did the items cost originally and what was the price after you switched the tags? how did you go about switching the tags? it might make a difference whether you did it in a way that seem premeditated

If the police were not called, then all you are going to have to deal with (more than likely) is the civil demand notice. I have yet to ever see a case for shoplifting filed after the fact when police were not called initially.

Switching tags is a crime in CA and it can be a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the details.

- Carl

yea there were no police involve but i she said i still need to go to court and its will be a misdemeanor

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Quoting stupidmistakes

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yea there were no police involve but i she said i still need to go to court and its will be a misdemeanor

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I doubt very much this will go to a criminal court. I've been at this for 16 years and I have yet to ever see a retail outlet (at least in CA) contact the police after the fact and ask that criminal charges be filed. It is possible, but highly unlikely ... unless your locale has a new, unusual policy.

- Carl

/hmm, so i should just wait and see what happens?

can this still go to a criminal court case if no police were involve?

The store has until the SOL runs out to file charges however that is unlikely

hi everyone again...i just called the LP dept and spoke to the same lady that caught me...she told me that i might now recieve the court letter anymore...the people just called her and told her that and they will call her back today and let her know...she said she will call me once she hear anything....that is a really good thing right? does that mean i will still have misdemeanor charges?