Shoplifting In Florida

thank you for all of you for posting replies, i just have one last question to ask, in your experience, what should be the outcome of this case?,
Charged with 3rd degree felony for 1075 and 1st time offence, i am 33 years old and highly educated, i have a masters, currently i am unemployed but i am writing a book. I know you have all heard this excuse million times before but i seriously made a mistake, worst of my life after i took so called advice from my so called friend. I am just freaking out and just want to know what is the worst case senario regarding this

Once again I would refer that question to your Attorney

Panther - Life isn't fair.

This post may get whacked because it's unfair or teasing, but here goes.

It's only 2 dresses. It's only 2 dresses worth $500+ per piece! You are fortunate that you are not being hit with 2 Felony charges.


If you are paying good money for your attorney then make an appointment with his/her office and go speak with him/her at his/her convenience. Ask them why you should not pay the CR fee. Ask them what you should do. Follow their instructions. Ask your attorney what he/she sees on a normal basis.

A Felony is a serious serious thing. It really prevents you from having what most of us would consider "The good life." The good jobs are out the window. You can actually complain about who got elected because you don't have the right to vote. You may not be able to get that 2nd Masters or get in a PhD program. You will find that even getting your kid(s) into a private school will be difficult. My guess is that your parents are upper middle class or lower upper class and might want grandbabies soon, but understand your push towards your profession. ...and you are likely have your share off suitors, but just wanted a nice dress for the date. This is just a guess. Owning a firearm so that you can defend yourself is out the window. On the upside, you will get to spent time once a month with someone in the legal system, may get occasional drug evals, etc.

If your attorney gets it dropped to lesser charges, such as a misdemenor, then you are a very fortunate person and life will be a lot easier because you won't have the Felony monkey on your back for the next 60 years.

If they get diversion then they walk on water and have a really good relationship with the courts and with their higher power. You will learn about higher powers if you are part of a 12-step shoplifting program.

My advice is, don't listen to this usedbranflakes dude, he sounds kinda soupey.


I have seen people charged with theft over 25 times NEVER EVER EVER receive jailtime. It all depends on your locality. Stay in communication with your lawyer. Show them you are serious. You may have to admit guilt and get put on a deferred disposition, but that is better than being found guilty.

Think about all the hoodlums that steal cars and rob houses. Many get put on probation for their first offence. You on the other hand did a non violent crime. If you have a really respected lawyer, you will get this knocked off your record in no time.

Stop beating yourself up about this, what has been done is in the past. Move forward.

Soupey? Soupy? Is that like Ditzy?

That having been said, I do agree with BAM! on most of what he says.

I have seen a few attorneys that can walk on water. One of them took a schoolteacher and got her a misdemeanor uttering charge off of something like 18 Felony forgery charges. I saw a guy with a Felony carjacking (strongarm) arrest get the charges dismissed because poor arrest procedures; technically the evidence was dismissed and the case had to be dismissed.

In the years that I spent time with law enforcement I never saw a convicted or plea bargained car thief not have to do some jail time unless they were a juvenile. Again, it does boil down to municipality. Our municipality did not tolerate car theft. Two people had been killed that year in car thefts.

I have never seen someone charged with theft 25 times never do jail time. I have seen a lot of people with misdemeanor theft, particularly young people, get probation.

Only a good attorney knows the habits of the prosecutor, judge, LP agents for the store, etc.

When I worked LP and credit all of our Felonies at the store resulted in some jail time, restitution, and probation, even if they were dropped to misdemeanor. ...and the people that had the charges dropped usually had 1 of 5 of the top attorneys in town. ...and those guys walked on water, had nice offices across from the courthouse, and had a phenomenal set of paralegals. One of the attorneys went on to be a state representative...so he walked on water.

thank you so much all of you for all your help, i will keep all of you posted on what is happenning in my case so maybe others can get help on this too. If any of you comes up with any information that might help me again i will be so grateful.

And as of my locality, i live in miami dade, if you guys have any info on how they treat 1st time offenders here, i will be more than glad, maybe i will be able to sleep in a couple of nights.:(