Arrested for the Second Time for Shoplifting

[worriedmess8965]

Perhaps your right... I guess ill take my chances in court...

[Bo_Buff]

Good luck on taking your chances in court!!! Lets do a little mock roleplay trial:

JUDGE: You were given a 1 time break a while back for the same offense!!! After you were arrested the first time didn't you do research and see that the most common excuse I hear is that you placed items in your purse that you meant to pay for!!!! And now you are back in court again and trying to use an excuse that a first time offender thinks will work!!!!!

worriedmess8965: UHHHHHH????

JUDGE: You obviously didn't learn the first time!!!! Bailiff, take her away!!!

You really need a lawyer to do the talking for you!!

--BUFF

[PandorasBox]

Ignore Buff, he is a troll.

You really do need a lawyer though. The judge will be more harsh on you this time. I still advise that Anti-Shoplifting Class and Shoplifters Anonymous, which will show the judge you are remorseful and taking steps to not shoplift again. But you really need a lawyer to try to get a plea deal/reduced charge.

[worriedmess8965]

So you think ill be arrested then.

- - - Updated - - -

You think I could get a public deffender? I can't afford a lawyer at this time I'm getting married in September

[LawResearcherMissy]

You think I could get a public deffender? I can't afford a lawyer at this time I'm getting married in September

Oh, sweetie, no. If you think the fact that you're shelling out for a big wedding is going to qualify you for a PD, think again. It's based on your income.

You might want to think about getting married by the JP, and save the money for your criminal defense.

[worriedmess8965]

I'm scared to death I just want to get this over with. The first time I got lucky I might not be so lucky this time

[LawResearcherMissy]

Well, yes, you should be scared. The courts are highly unlikely to go easy on you. And given that you got pinched while the court was already going easy on you? If you're the praying sort, get to it, because you're going to need Divine Intervention to stay out of jail.

Attorney. As fast as you can. And get yourself into counseling, because it's pretty obvious that you have a problem.

[Bo_Buff]

Don't want to make others mad but I am not a troll!!! I am giving you "real free advice"!!I hope you don't plan on walking into court on your date and saying "xxxx from Expertlaw.com told me to say so and so!!!!"""" Most judges wont see that you took your first offense serious as that!!!!!!!You got your free pass already!! Live up to this one!!!

--BUFF

[worriedmess8965]

I am the type to pray... and I will although some of you are brutally honest I appreciate it. I will take whatever happens as it comes and wish for the best and have faith... and take my punishment for my mistake of being done and careless in forgetting to pay (even if you guys dont believe me its the truth) and I will get either a lawyer or a public defender. Thank you all...

[Jared_A]

I second the notion that you need to cancel your wedding plans to save the money for legal proceedings. There won't be a wedding anyway if you're in jail. If things go badly at your hearing, they sometimes arrest you on the spot, which is before your wedding anyway. Better to get married at the justice of the peace with a few friends and family in attendance, and just go out to dinner afterwards. It sucks, but not as bad as jail will suck.

For the best advice you need a lawyer, many people on this site aren't even law student dropouts, or law hobbyists. They could be right about the shoplifter anonymous classes, but that could also tell the judge that you do in fact have a problem with theft, which you are saying that you don't. I don't think anyone but a lawyer who has experience in your local courts with your local judges can tell you what would be the best way to approach this situation. Also I think it's uncalled for to imply that she does in fact have a problem when she is telling us that it was an accident. That's pretty presumptuous. Two times stealing does not = an addict, and working class people rarely steal for fun or when they have the money to pay. If her circumstances indicate that she had no real reason to steal, that could work in her favor, but she needs a lawyer to plead that case in the right way. Lawyers know the judges and what their hot buttons and soft spots are.