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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
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    2

    Default Should a Minor Shoplifter Ignore a Civil Demand

    My question involves criminal law for the state of: Louisiana

    So today I decided to make the stupid decision of stealing a 5 dollar pen from Walmart and got caught. I am a 16 year old and it as my first time stealing. I opened the package for the pen and put it in my pocket and got stopped by an undercover LP before I left and was brought to a room without me resisting. They asked me questions like my age, weight, height, address, etc. My brother then came to pick me up where he had to sign some paper but I didn't have to sign anything. They said a letter would be coming in the mail which I'm guessing is a civil demand letter or something. No police were involved and they let me go with a 24 hour ban. Should I pay the fine or ignore which I hear a lot of people suggest. Will I have to go to court or will I be fine just ignoring the letter and not paying the fine since I didn't leave with the merchandise.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    6,808

    Default Re: Shoplifting at Walmart

    Well, the Civil Demand letter will be mailed to your parents. So...if they fail to pay, it will be their credit rating that gets messed up.

    If your parents don't pay that fine....two things can happen.
    - That file of your name, age, height, weight, photos of you....can be sent to the police and the prosecutor for criminal charges.
    - The store can sue your parents in Civil Court for the Civil Demand and added legal fees.

    PS: 24 hours ban? Um...before you enter a WalMart again, you may want to investigate that. Go in before that ban is over, you get arrested and charged with Criminal Trespass. It's more likely a 2 YR ban.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Posts
    441

    Default Re: Should a Minor Shoplifter Ignore a Civil Demand

    Quote Quoting Baogao
    View Post
    My question involves criminal law for the state of: Louisiana

    So today I decided to make the stupid decision of stealing a 5 dollar pen from Walmart and got caught. I am a 16 year old and it as my first time stealing. I opened the package for the pen and put it in my pocket and got stopped by an undercover LP before I left and was brought to a room without me resisting. They asked me questions like my age, weight, height, address, etc. My brother then came to pick me up where he had to sign some paper but I didn't have to sign anything. They said a letter would be coming in the mail which I'm guessing is a civil demand letter or something. No police were involved and they let me go with a 24 hour ban. Should I pay the fine or ignore which I hear a lot of people suggest. Will I have to go to court or will I be fine just ignoring the letter and not paying the fine since I didn't leave with the merchandise.
    Quit stealing.

    Man up and don't minimize what you did. There is no reason for anyone to trust you ever again or give you any opportunity if you don't acknowledge that you screwed up in a serious way.

    And stop trying to get out of paying the price for what you did. Pay the civil demand. The fact that you admitted to stealing and now want to ignore the civil demand speaks volumes about your lack of character.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    Pennsylvania
    Posts
    806

    Default Re: Should a Minor Shoplifter Ignore a Civil Demand

    Quote Quoting DeputyDog
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    And stop trying to get out of paying the price for what you did. Pay the civil demand. The fact that you admitted to stealing and now want to ignore the civil demand speaks volumes about your lack of character.
    This. I am SO tired of reading about every "kid" who shoplifts and then wants to know if they should pay. Where are the morals and ethics of today's generation? Was it really that different 15-20 years ago when I was growing up? You didn't steal stuff. You worked and saved money to buy what you wanted. Seriously, pay the fine. You admit you stole. You are 16 and should definitely know better. Pay up. The people suggesting you NOT pay are low life freeloaders who feel they don't need to pay for things they want. Get real.

    Seriously? A $5 pen. I hope the civil demand letter is for $300 so you learn a lesson. FIVE DOLLARS.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    6,808

    Default Re: Should a Minor Shoplifter Ignore a Civil Demand

    ...and when your parents don't pay and Criminal Charges are pressed....yes, the judge will want to see the receipt that the Civil Demand was paid (you are taking responsibility for your actions)....and yes, that can affect how you are criminally sentenced.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Posts
    2

    Default Re: Should a Minor Shoplifter Ignore a Civil Demand

    Yes I know what I did was wrong and yes I learned my lesson to not steal again. I will try to pay the civil demand if it is within my budget but the main thing I am worried about now is if I have to go to court or not. I don't want to bring my mom into this because she already works hard enough to provides for 3 kids so I don't want her suffering for a stupid mistake that I made. I will try to pay for the civil demand or restitution but i remembered hearing something about court and a lawyer and that's stressing me out. Will my mom or I be required to go to court or will it just be a civil demand letter that I have to pay?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    24,521

    Default Re: Should a Minor Shoplifter Ignore a Civil Demand

    You're 16. You're a minor. Your mom IS going to know about this.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    6,808

    Default Re: Should a Minor Shoplifter Ignore a Civil Demand

    If that Civil Demand is not paid - in full....the store may be inclined to press criminal charges. Which will REALLY piss off your mother because now instead of JUST the Civil Demand, she has to take time off work to go to court with you, she will have court costs and fines to pay, plus costs for things like anti-shoplifting class, possibly a lawyer....

    By the way, how are you going to keep the demand notice from your mom? Are you going to arouse suspicion by hovering over the mailbox all day? And how are you going to pay the Civil Demand? At 16, it is unlikely that you have a checking account or credit card....because cash payments are usually not accepted and not a good idea anyway (mail theft, cash lost in the mail = no proof of payment).

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