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I am 22 years old. I got caught shoplifting after-the-fact (they had me on camera; someone at the store recognized me) over $600 worth of stuff from Macy's in Houston, TX. I got a letter in the mail saying there is a warrant out for my arrest. This is my first ever offense. What is the usual procedure in cases such as this one?
Chapter 31 of your penal code states:
(3) a Class A misdemeanor if the value of the property
stolen is $500 or more but less than $1,500;
Chapter 12:
§ 12.21. CLASS A MISDEMEANOR. An individual adjudged
guilty of a Class A misdemeanor shall be punished by:
(1) a fine not to exceed $4,000;
(2) confinement in jail for a term not to exceed one
year; or
(3) both such fine and confinement.
I would suggest you start looking for a good criminal defense lawyer. If you don't turn yourself in, you may be arrested. You will most likely have to pay restitution to the store you stole from, which is usually the value of what you stole plus a fee larger than the value of what you stole, you're also in for a lot of court fees, and lawyer fees. In a lot of other states, that value would make this a felony. Read around the forums and see if you can find cases similar to yours. Other people here may be better informed about this, stay tuned.