Shoplifting at JC Penney

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Massachuchetts

Last night i was caught shoplifting from JC penny. I stole one item from them. A bottle of $135 dollar lotion. I entered the dressing room, took it out of the box and then i left the dressing room with the lotion in my bag. I then left the store where lost prevention contacted me. I was taken into a room and questioned. I had another bag filled with other things that were stolen from American Eagle, Abercrombie and Brooks Brothers. I denied taking those items and all they did was write up a form for the lotion. The police came and i was questioned and they confiscated the other stolen items from the other stores. She told me to confess to taking the other items after cursing at me and said i would be arrested if i didnt confess. So i did confess cause i did not want to be arrested. The cop did not arrest me but told me she would call me tomorrow with a list of charges. She said as of right now i would be charged with theft from jcpenny and could recieve a court date in the mail and a civil something charge, i dont remember. I just want to know what i need to do, if im going to go to jail, and if this is going to go on my record. Im petrified. This is my first time doing this and getting caught. I explained that it was part of a dare and i was threatened to do it. I was let go after spending 45 mins in the room and then the cop left right after so i dont know what will happen with the stuff from the other stores. PLEASE HELP. i am 20 yrs old female. I have been reading alot of stuff online and some people have gone to jail for a first offense and i am petfified. I am in college and dont know if they will contact my college and will i get kicked out? Some people said to get a public defender and he can try and get my case dismissed. i dont know how to do this or what to do.

PLEASE HELP ME!!!

You stole from 4 stores...expect 4 Civil Demand letters. Figure $250 each....

Criminal Charges...well, since 4 stores can charge you....you need a Criminal Defense Attorney.

Don't expect the judge(s) to go lenient.

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I just want to know what i need to do,

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Get an attorney. NOW. If you can't afford private counsel, show up for your arraignment, plead Not Guilty, and ask for a Public Defender.

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if im going to go to jail

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Unlikely.

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and if this is going to go on my record.

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Probably, given you've nabbed yourself charges from four different stores, and diversion is typically good for only one.

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I explained that it was part of a dare and i was threatened to do it.

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You didn't honestly expect that to help you in any way, did you? That might get the judge to ask you if you ate a bowl of stupid for breakfast, but it won't get you anything more than that. You're old enough to know right from wrong, and certainly old enough to know that "peer pressure" is never a valid excuse.

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I am in college and dont know if they will contact my college and will i get kicked out?

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The authorities don't typically go out of their way to rat students out to their colleges. Your conviction(s), however, are a matter of public record, and if your school imposes an Honor Code, you may run into trouble there.

even if they dont have proof that i stole the items. I was basically forced to say i stole them. I was threatned to do this as a dare which i explained to the police. What happens now... do u go to court and plead guilty or do i go there and say not guilty and ask for a lawyer once im there?

the stores the other items were stolen from were closed at the time i was caught. The cop said they would call me today with a list of charges but for sure i would hear from jcpenny. Can the other stores do anything if they didnt see me do it?

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Quoting watrskiergurl

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even if they dont have proof that i stole the items. I was basically forced to say i stole them. I was threatned to do this as a dare which i explained to the police. What happens now... do u go to court and plead guilty or do i go there and say not guilty and ask for a lawyer once im there?

the stores the other items were stolen from were closed at the time i was caught. The cop said they would call me today with a list of charges but for sure i would hear from jcpenny. Can the other stores do anything if they didnt see me do it?

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You said you were "caught" shoplifting. That implies proof of the event. I wouldn't argue that if I went into a police department and confessed to killing Jimmy Hoffa that anyone would turn around and saying, "man caught killing Jimmy Hoffa".

The advice given by Missy hasn't changed: get an attorney. If you can't afford one (stop breaking the law, or confessing to breaking the law), show up at court, plead not guilty and look into getting a public defender.

Also, find smarter friends. Incidentally, a threat and a dare aren't remotely similar ideas. Do this or I'll kill you is not remotely equivalent to do that for the thrill of seeing if you get caught. Hopefully, I don't have to explain which one is in which category.

also the cop said if i dont hear anything in 3 weeks to call the police station...should i really do this or count my blessings it wait for them to call me...

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Quoting watrskiergurl

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even if they dont have proof that i stole the items. I was basically forced to say i stole them.

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Your confession will be seen as proof of your intention to steal.

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I was threatned to do this as a dare which i explained to the police.

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This will be seen as proof of your prior intention to steal.

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What happens now... do u go to court and plead guilty or do i go there and say not guilty and ask for a lawyer once im there?

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Plead not guilty. Ask for an attorney. Hope that the charges aren't lumped together as a felony.

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the stores the other items were stolen from were closed at the time i was caught. The cop said they would call me today with a list of charges but for sure i would hear from jcpenny. Can the other stores do anything if they didnt see me do it?

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You confessed to stealing them. That will be enough.

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Quoting watrskiergurl

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also the cop said if i dont hear anything in 3 weeks to call the police station...should i really do this or count my blessings it wait for them to call me...

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This is not going to go away if you hide from it long enough.

You are facing grown up trouble. Time to act like a grown up about it.

So basically go to court and pleade not guilty even though i confessed? isnt that lying in court? im so confused. If i do go and plead not guilty and ask for a public defender what happens after that? will i get like community service or something

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even if they dont have proof that i stole the items

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You had them in your possession. Do you think they'll believe you when you tell them that the Great Pumpkin put all that stuff in your bag?

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I was threatned to do this as a dare which i explained to the police.

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Nobody cares about the "dare". It's no excuse, as you've already been told.

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What happens now... do u go to court and plead guilty or do i go there and say not guilty and ask for a lawyer once im there?

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Did you even read the instructions I gave you?

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Can the other stores do anything if they didnt see me do it?

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Yes. You had the merch in your possession AND you confessed. You claim the police officer swore at you and "forced" you to confess, but I wouldn't expect that claim to hold up to scrutiny.

The stores have a year to press charges.

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also the cop said if i dont hear anything in 3 weeks to call the police station...should i really do this or count my blessings it wait for them to call me...

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If you don't do it, you may find yourself unpleasantly surprised later.

You had the merchandise in your possession.
You signed a statement that you stole it.
- Stealing it on a dare makes your case worse. Not a random decision, but a planned choice.
- There are witnesses - those L.P. people that apprehended you.
- Another witness - the cop you told you stole on a dare.
- There is likely video surveillance of you also.


Now...as for calling the police department if you don't hear anything in 3 weeks: Yes, it is advisable. Unless you LIKE being arrested, placed in handcuffs, and charged with Failure to Appear for your shoplifting case(s)....

Again...Criminal Defense Lawyer. Start calling around today.....