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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
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    Default Reporting to the Court or Probation After Sentencing for Shoplifting

    My question involves criminal law for the state of: Missouri

    A very important woman in my life got caught stealing a VERY small item (under $150 is what matters) from a Walmart 3.5 months ago. She did not hire an attorney because she can't afford one as she tries to attend college. Yes, I know she should have but she also hid all of this from me out of embarrassment. She got a court summons after the initial incident for roughly 2 months later in March. She attended and plead guilty with the ruling from the judge that by taking a class and enduring 2 years of probation the misdemeanor would not appear on her record. She took the class and was never properly informed how her probation worked.

    Today, so 1.5 months after the first court date, she received another court summons for mid-June reading to the effect of "Answering to a Complaint Regarding Stealing" (sorry I don't have the summons document in hand). She isn't sure what this is about. We think it has something to do with her probation but the summons doesn't say much which is why I am afraid it isn't in regards to her probation.

    Should she be worried and what is this most likely about? Other than suggesting she should have hired an attorney which we already know, is she OK with attending this court date with no attorney in hopes it's about probation? Or should she hire one because this has become more serious? She plans to call the court to inquire about details but I doubt they will say much. We are both in our 20's and have totally clean records, other than her stealing thing now, and have no idea how this all works. I know she is mortified by this and hates the fact that I feel the need to help, but hey she's pretty amazing and deserves the help.

    I will do my best to provide as many details as you guys need to help us out, but we don't live together so it could be difficult. Thanks so much in advance.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
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    38,867

    Default Re: Misdemeanor Stealing - Court Summons After Taking Class

    Was this from the criminal courts or civil courts?

    As as to her probation; I suspect she was told to contact the probation department of the court. She need to review all of the documents she was given from the court.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
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    4

    Default Re: Misdemeanor Stealing - Court Summons After Taking Class

    Ah good question. How can she tell which court it's from?

    PS: I believe she settled everything in the civil court regarding repaying the Walmart (yes, I know she shouldn't have done that because they already recovered their property, but again I didn't know all these details until today).

  4. #4
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    Jan 2006
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    38,867

    Default Re: Misdemeanor Stealing - Court Summons After Taking Class

    Actuslly yes, she should have paid walmarts civil demand. The law allows for it. If she refused to pay if they could have sued her and won.

    How do you tell what court its from? Read it on the top of the summons.


    it would probably be better to wait unti you can actually read the summons and be able to relay what it actually says.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
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    4

    Default Re: Misdemeanor Stealing - Court Summons After Taking Class

    Quote Quoting jk
    View Post
    Actuslly yes, she should have paid walmarts civil demand. The law allows for it. If she refused to pay if they could have sued her and won.

    How do you tell what court its from? Read it on the top of the summons.


    it would probably be better to wait unti you can actually read the summons and be able to relay what it actually says.
    Oh, ok. I had read (not very thoroughly, so I'm stupid) that it generally costs them more to sue you than for you to refuse. But hearing myself say that, sounds like a bad idea so my bad. But she did fully repay Walmart according to the original civil demand. In that case, how could they take her to court again? Isn't the case closed upon full payment of the amount?

    I will update when she tells me which court. Unfortunately that will probably be tomorrow. Thank you so much. I really apologize for not having immediate access to the documentation. I cannot express how helpful this has already been.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    Default Re: Misdemeanor Stealing - Court Summons After Taking Class

    I expect that she was either supposed to report to probation, or document her completion of the course to the court, and that she failed to do so. I can't see the court notice from where I'm sitting, and I have no access to the court records, so you're forcing us to guess. Get the facts, and come back with the facts.

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