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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Posts
    3

    Default Shoplifting from a Grocery Store, Misdemeanor Charge

    My question involves criminal law for the state of: NJ

    I am 22 years old and about to go to medical school... I am unbelievably disappointed with myself and completely ashamed. I shoplifted around $70 worth of food from a grocery store and was detained, where I was fingerprinted and had my pictures taken. Before I was taken I spoke with the store manager, and explained why I did it. To give context, I have an eating disorder and often binge on large amounts of junk food. I know that what I did was a horrible thing to do, and I am not trying to justify my actions, but the eating disorder developed from being under stress from parents' expectations. This obviously later developed into worse habits, like theft of food in order to fuel my eating disorder. Both the police and the store manager were extremely kind and understanding and I know why I was taken to the station and given a court summon. I am extremely certain that I will NOT commit any further crimes... I am so, so, so disgusted with myself.

    I am currently living with my parents but absolutely cannot let them know what has happened, nor do I have the money to hire a lawyer. The police told me "not to worry" and that I would just "get a fine" at court, but I am still concerned about my future as a medical student.

    1. Should I plea "guilty" or "no contest"?
    2. Will I have to report this to medical schools? Furthermore, will this affect my ability to be a practicing doctor?

    I am very scared about my future... any help would be appreciated.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    19,901

    Default Re: Civil Misdemeanor, Shoplifting, New Jersey

    How about pleading NOT GUILTY. Never plead other than not guilty unless you have legal counsel as to the implications of doing otherwise.
    Almost all medical schools will run a background check on you. You can count on them finding out your criminal record.

    Blaming your moral turpitude on an eating disorder also doesn't bode well for you becoming a doctor. Nobody wants the mentally ill in charge of patient care.

    NEVER take advice from the police. They don't know what medical school and your eventual medical licensing requirements are going to be.

    You should be VERY scared. Get your butt to an attorney. The best thing that can happen for you is to get into some pretrial intervention that can avoid the conviction entirely.

    By the way your title "civil misdemeanor" is nonsense. First, you are not being dealt with as a civil case. You may expect to also get a letter from the store's "lawyers" demanding civil restitution, but if you have a court date, you are being CRIMINALLY charged. New Jersey doesn't have felonies or misdemeanors officially, just crimes and disorderly person's offense. Note that this makes little difference to you. You being convicted of a disorderly person's offense WILL RESULT IN A CRIMINAL RECORD.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Posts
    3

    Default Re: Civil Misdemeanor, Shoplifting, New Jersey

    Hi, I just want to know why I would please not guilty when I committed the crime? What if they bring up proof and then I am charged for worse for lying in court? I want this to be as clean as possible.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    19,901

    Default Re: Civil Misdemeanor, Shoplifting, New Jersey

    Because it's not required that you plead guilty just because you did it. That's not LYING in court.

    I can't figure out how to make it any plainer to you

    GET A LAWYER!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    24,521

    Default Re: Civil Misdemeanor, Shoplifting, New Jersey

    Pleading not guilty is not saying, I didn't do it. It is saying, I am standing on my right under the Constitution to have the state prove me guilty.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Posts
    1,142

    Default Re: Civil Misdemeanor, Shoplifting, New Jersey

    Before this becomes any deeper. YOU NEED TO TELL YOUR PARENTS. Quickly. You are on the verge of REALLY screwing up their expectations. And now is the time to stop it, come clean, and let them help you get an attorney. Yes, they will be very upset with you. But you need more help than you can get for yourself alone while sneaking around and trying to keep them from finding out. If your 'about to go to medical school' or having finished an undergraduate degree was as a result of their help in any way, please let them help you dig your way out of this and get some good counseling to make sure this doesn't follow you and you end up doing these behaviors again and ruining your life completely.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Posts
    3

    Default Re: Civil Misdemeanor, Shoplifting, New Jersey

    Hi, thanks for your advice. I talked to my father and I also arranged to meet an attorney soon. The attorney said that he would review the case to see how he would defend me so as of now I do not know how I what I will plead. Do you think that there is any way a resolution could be reached where the school I am matriculated to does not get contacted? The attorney also mentioned that a criminal record would cause problems during board reviews. The police stated that I am going to court for a "disorderly persons offense, not a criminal offense" and that it wouldn't go on my record but I have no idea if that is true. The grocery manager also said that I would get a municipal ordinance, but again, I don't know what is true. Any further advice is greatly appreciated.

  8. #8

    Default Re: Civil Misdemeanor, Shoplifting, New Jersey

    Never accept legal advice from a grocery store manager.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    19,901

    Default Re: Civil Misdemeanor, Shoplifting, New Jersey

    I normally don't even read PMs people send me, but I'll respond here.

    There's no such thing as a "public prosecutor." The prosecutor represents the people (which essentially means they all are public I guess). What you mean is a public defender. Note that a public defender is not some default for those disinclined to pay for their defense, it is for those who are facing jail time who are indigent and can not obtain a private lawyer. Information on just what a public defender means in your state and how to get one is in this link: http://www.nj.gov/defender/apply/index.shtml

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