Minor Charged with Shoplifting While on Vacation Out-of-State

[sarahmacy]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Arizona

I am seventeen years old and have no prior record what so ever. The other day I attempted to steal for the first time, the retail value ended up being around $50 which was a lot more than I had expected. I was aprehended by LP and confessed immediately, returned the items, and gave them identification. They proceeded to call the police, who then pressed charges. I have been visiting my grandparents on vacation and am supposed to return home to Massachusetts in two days for school and work obligations, but now I have a court date out here. This was so out of character and I'm shocked that I'm in this position and feel extremely remorseful. How may the courts look at a situation like this? Do I stand a chance of getting this expunged? How should I proceed?

[Ohiogal]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Arizona

I am seventeen years old and have no prior record what so ever. The other day I attempted to steal for the first time, the retail value ended up being around $50 which was a lot more than I had expected. I was aprehended by LP and confessed immediately, returned the items, and gave them identification. They proceeded to call the police, who then pressed charges. I have been visiting my grandparents on vacation and am supposed to return home to Massachusetts in two days for school and work obligations, but now I have a court date out here. This was so out of character and I'm shocked that I'm in this position and feel extremely remorseful. How may the courts look at a situation like this? Do I stand a chance of getting this expunged? How should I proceed?

You will be in juvenile court. You very well may not have a job when you get home -- especially if you worked in retail. You can expect to have to appear for court with your parents and may end up on probation. Out of character? I don't think so. Getting caught may be out of your character but I highly doubt this is the first time you stole. Everyone apparently only attempts to steal once and gets caught. Don't expect the court to necessarily believe that. YOu need to contact your parents and they should expect to be in court with you.

[Mr. Knowitall]

You very well may not have a job when you get home -- especially if you worked in retail.

Given that the national databases of known shoplifters to which stores subscribe do not include minors, that's highly unlikely.

[I] am supposed to return home to Massachusetts in two days for school and work obligations, but now I have a court date out here.

On Monday morning, your grandparents can help you find a lawyer who practices juvenile law, and that lawyer can advise you about your options, and if retained may try to work out a resolution that does not require you to travel back to Arizona for additional court hearings. The lawyer will be the person in the best position to advise you as to what is or is not possible, given the policies of the local court and prosecutor.

[hr for me]

It's going to be an expensive souvenir and another trip for you and your parents. I agree your parents should expect to be in court with you when you return to court.

If it is so out of character, why did you do it? You made the choice to go "out of character" and now you will suffer the consequences of doing so. And in the end your parents and grandparents will also suffer consequences along with you. I am sure it is not what you expected, but it is now what you have to deal with. And I agree if your work at home is told and it is a job that deals with inventory or money, you should probably expect to be terminated.

I think you need to get through the consequences of this prior to thinking of trying to expunge it, even if you are truly remorseful. You need to take it step by step instead of trying to hop to the end/expunging it. You are thinking way too far ahead.

[eerelations]

You need to tell your parents about this so that they can handle things for you.