Results 1 to 10 of 10
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Posts
    7

    Exclamation Willful Concealment Charges

    My question involves criminal law for the state of: New Hampshire

    I was in a store and decided to bring a 40$ Product into the bathroom (I hid the case under my sweatshirt) so once I was in the bathroom I decided this was a bad idea and hid the case in the bathroom. when I left the stall employees from LP were already outside and went immediately in the stall and searched for the case and found it. They took me and decided to put me in an office for LP and call the police. I talked to the police and had to signed a summons paper for a court date. The paper said charges of willful Concealment. Any tips on what I should plea and what I should do?

  2. #2

    Default Re: Willful Concealment Charge

    You need to be a little clearer. You hid the case - where was the merchandise in the case?

    Here's New Hampshire's concealment statute:

    637:3-a Willful Concealment. –

    I. A person is guilty of willful concealment if, without authority, he or she willfully conceals the goods or merchandise of any store while still upon the premises of such store. Goods or merchandise found concealed upon the person shall be prima facie evidence of willful concealment. Notwithstanding RSA 637:11, willful concealment shall be a misdemeanor.


  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    19,901

    Default Re: Willful Concealment Charge

    And what you should do is get an attorney. You're being charged with a crime. While it's unlikely, jail is a possibility.

    Always plead not guilty unless you have legal counsel as to what the consequences of doing otherwise are.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Posts
    7

    Default Re: Willful Concealment Charge

    Well when I took the merchandise off of the shelf I then put it under my sweatshirt, at that point I went into the bathroom and into the stall. In the stall when I was going to take the item out of the packaging I decided not to and that it was a bad idea so I ended up hiding the product in the stall where a LP associate found shortly after.

    Also is there any chance I'll be offered a plea bargain to not have this on my record? It's a clean record with no previous offences

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Posts
    441

    Default Re: Willful Concealment Charge

    Sounds like this is pretty cut and dry. You're guilty of the offense.

    As for diversion, ask the prosecutor or get an attorney and ask him/her.

  6. #6

    Default Re: Willful Concealment Charge

    Did you admit to anything?

    You could've easily made up a plausible excuse for concealing it. You didn't steal the merchandise yet.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Posts
    8,006

    Default Re: Willful Concealment Charge

    Quote Quoting questionforu
    View Post
    You could've easily made up a plausible excuse for concealing it. You didn't steal the merchandise yet.
    Doesn't matter. OP is not being charges specifically with stealing. They are being charged with willful concealment. Plus lying is never a good idea because virtually every possible excuse has been tried before and no one is going to buy it.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Posts
    7

    Default Re: Willful Concealment Charge

    Hello everyone, I have gone to court since posting this and would like to thank everyone who contributed, not much was discussed but I can tell you this I was made offer and after I follow through there will be no record. Once again thank you to everyone who helped contribute

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Posts
    2

    Default Re: Willful Concealment Charge

    I have a quick question since you've already went through the process... What did you plead in court? I asked my own question earlier but didn't get a response yet.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Posts
    7

    Default Re: Willful Concealment Charge

    I went into court with the assumption I should plead guilty until someone else first asked to speak to the prosecutor, so I also asked to speak to the prosecutor before pleading anything. I recommend you do the same it doesn't hurt! As soon as I did the prosecutor had a paper with my punishment already made up!

    1. Sponsored Links
       

Similar Threads

  1. Retail Fraud / Shoplifting: How Far Do Willful Concealment Laws Extend
    By enicolvin in forum Criminal Charges
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 04-22-2012, 09:09 AM
  2. Retail Fraud / Shoplifting: Detective Called, Accused of Concealment - Threatening to Press Charges
    By debrajo61 in forum Criminal Charges
    Replies: 31
    Last Post: 07-20-2011, 08:25 AM
  3. Retail Fraud / Shoplifting: Willful Concealment Charge
    By trishadsh in forum Criminal Charges
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 03-14-2011, 06:26 PM
  4. Theft and Larceny: 637:3-a Willful Concealment and 635:2 Criminal Trespass
    By rob1979 in forum Criminal Charges
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 07-13-2010, 01:42 PM
  5. Retail Fraud / Shoplifting: Concealment
    By Wan2bLP in forum Criminal Charges
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 11-27-2007, 03:08 PM
 
 
Sponsored Links

Legal Help, Information and Resources