Caught Shoplifting and Can Barely Breathe

My question involves criminal law for the state of: michigan


Even hard to begin typing, yet here I am ...

I returned home from the grocery store on Wednesday to a phone call from the local police station that they wanted me to come in to talk to them. When I asked in regard to what they said a charge of retail fraud, of course my heart dropped. I had gone into the store , picked up something, put it in my purse, heart pounding I put it out and down .

I went immediately to the store and talked to a woman and a manager ( i know the woman) i told them the meat is IN th store still, they couldnt seem to find it .. so I left my phone number, expected a call on Thursday saying they found it. Nope no call. Called this morning before meeting at the station and she said htey still see nothing.

Okay I admitted to doing it .. I also admitted to putting it back .. so they cant find it? I realize from looking here that the simple act of putting it in and then taking it out is still theft. UGH yes embarassed, stressed ..

When I went to the station he had me write out what I did that day. I did that. He told me they had it on film which he had not seen and also someone watching with a report.

I was told that he would have to look over what they have, and turn it into the prosecutor and he had no reason to believe that this would not go to court.

Im not sure what to do now .. he said they will be calling me, will have me come in for finger prints, and citation with a date to appear.

I am in mid 50's .. never a conviction of this sort. Do i get a lawyer? I just dont know what to do at this point.

any advice would be great.

Quote:

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Quoting wthregret

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Do i get a lawyer? I just dont know what to do at this point.

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That would be a good place to start. Chances are you are going to be charged and having a lawyer would be to your benefit.

Michigan

750.356c Retail fraud in first degree.

Sec. 356c.


(1) A person who does any of the following in a store or in its immediate vicinity is guilty of retail fraud in the first degree, a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 5 years or a fine of not more than $10,000.00 or 3 times the value of the difference in price, property stolen, or money or property obtained or attempted to be obtained, whichever is greater, or both imprisonment and a fine:


(a) While a store is open to the public, alters, transfers, removes and replaces, conceals, or otherwise misrepresents the price at which property is offered for sale, with the intent not to pay for the property or to pay less than the price at which the property is offered for sale, if the resulting difference in price is $1,000.00 or more.
(b) While a store is open to the public, steals property of the store that is offered for sale at a price of $1,000.00 or more.
(c) With intent to defraud, obtains or attempts to obtain money or property from the store as a refund or exchange for property that was not paid for and belongs to the store, if the amount of money or the value of the property obtained or attempted to be obtained is $1,000.00 or more.


The above is a portion of Michigan law. (with thanks to security consultant for link). Notice the portion bold. Whether the item(s) are found or not you meet criteria for retail fraud. You should consult an Attorney right away to plan on how you will deal with the likely charges

Thank you to the two that replied .. this has been quite a day.

It seems it was found, I am also thankful to say that they decided to not go further with this... I realize how fortunate I am, have learned a very hard lesson ... the sad part is I can no longer shop in any of their stores, I know this is a very small price to pay in comparrison of how this could have ended .. now it is onward and forward. Thanks again.