Issued a Citation for Shoplifting in Las Vegas

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Nevada, Las Vegas

I was stopped by loss prevention outside of macys department store in the fashion show mall. The lady flashed her badge and said "ma'am I need to speak with you for a minute." i replied with "What for?" she looked down at my feet then looked back up at me. so I looked down at my feet and realized that i had forgotten to take off the boots i had tried on. I didnt try to run, or not cooperate in any way. my automatic reaction was me walking back into the store before they could say another word. as a matter of fact, i was back in the store and they didnt even realize it until 2 min later. i was unzipping the boots and told my fiancee to get my boots for me from wherever i had left them.The loss prevention people would not let me take the boots off.. and kept grabbing my arms and started pushing me. at the same time looking at someone across the store for approval of some sort. again i tried to take off the boots and told them to hang on a sec please. they would not let me take the boots off. thats when i realized they were now trying to say i was shoplifting and, took me into the security room/office. on the way in there, i told my fiancee please find my boots so we can go. thats when one of the loss prev. people said" You're not going anywhere"
I replied with" why wont you let me take these boots off?" nobody would answer me.( I'm thinking to myself wow not only did THEY notice that I didnt realize I was still wearing the boots they didnt even give me a chance to take them off and apologize for being absent-minded.)
The next thing was: The man loss prev. guy ordered them to search my purse and ordered the blonde lady to search me. so, the blonde lady stuck her fingers in my pocket then pulled them out then said "I'm going to search you now" before she could move her arm my hand was already in my pocket and found what she had planted and pulled it out.thats when the blonde lady said all franticly"shes got the drugs in her hand!!!!they're in her hand!!!"
Thats when 4 people attacked me!!
Long story short, I winded up getting a citation for shoplifting and taken to jail for poss of meth. Which yesterday I recieved a letter from the D.A. stating they were NOT going to press charges for the poss. of meth and apologized for the inconvienence. what do I do when I go to court for the shoplifting case?? And what do I do about them Planting a stolen credit card in my fiancees pocket?? and scanning the cameras on the entire mall looking for him in a frantic rage on my side of the door and telling him he could not come in and to leave on his side of the door?? :confused:

You left the store with merchandise you didn't pay for. That would be shoplifting.

The most oft used excuse used is "I am absent minded and didn't realize I still had the merchandise." Judges hear it with such frequency that it has lost all meaning.

Your boyfriend had zero right to be in the room with you. Zero. His screaming and yelling will NOT help your case.

If you believe you can prove that a Macy's employee was not only in possession of meth but planted it on you (for reasons you never really explained), I recommend the services of an attorney to sue the retailer.

Won't change your shoplifting case, though.

"And what do I do about them Planting a stolen credit card in my fiancees pocket??"

So..the question is: Was your fiance charged with anything? Aiding a shoplifter, possession of stolen credit card.....????

If your issue is that you were arrested for shoplifting for wearing the boots out of the store and you wanted to try out this "explanation" here to see if it would help you in court defending yourself, my vote is no. You don't present your thoughts well and some things that you consider mitigating are of no value to your case or even incriminating. You need an attorney to represent you.

For your fiance: There is no law against security looking at pictures from security cameras. That is what they have them for. If he was charged with a crime, he needs an attorney also.

Now that someone has echoed my honest thoughts:

(1) If you and fiance honestly had stuff planted on you (meth on you, stolen credit card on him) you definitely need lawyers to review the tapes closely, and to deal with those charges, ALONG with your shoplifting charge, and any other charges filed.

(2) The "Switch New Item for Old Item" tactic is a very common one used by shoplifters to obtain new footwear. And as CyJeff stated...the "Oops, I forgot I tried these on" excuse is also very common.

i understand that this thing happens alot... im not "trying anything out" on the web site. ive never been in trouble in my life. i just dont know what to do or say on my court date .what do i plea?? thats why i came to this site, is to get help and answers. whats the worst that can happen? should i mention the stuff thats irrelevant or what? if i dont have an attorney what will happen??? what do i do?? please help??

Based on what you have said, this is pretty much a slam dunk for the prosecution. You need an attorney to advise you. Best is to get your own attorney and let him determine whether you will take the stand or not. If you cannot afford an attorney, you should request that an attorney be provided for you. Say nothing else until you have talked with the attorney and follow the advice of the attorney.

This is a serious situation for you. We can't effectively advise you since we won't be there, and you shouldn't depend on anonymous people on an internet site for the detail on how to proceed anyway. That is why you need an attorney there.

Get a consultation with a Criminal Defense Attorney. Most offer free consultations.

Be honest with the lawyer.

If you can't afford a lawyer: You plead "I stand Mute", then ask for a public defender.

thank you for your help scott and pandora. i am very greatful that u took the time to help me.:) i dont want to look foolish if i dont have a case. i do have one more question though; does macys have a no chase law? is loss prevention required by law to stop you inside or outside of the store?

Macy's specific LP policies are irrelevant in this case. You were stopped past the final point of purchase therefore you were given every opportunity to pay. I would not pursue this question any further.

I will also add that most retailers have changed their policies to a more draconian stance in the last year or so.