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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2018
    Posts
    2

    Default Shoplifting from a University Bookstore

    Hi everyone,

    I was in my university's bookstore, I needed a pencil for some design class, and I put it in my pocket and left. I was stopped, the event was filed with the school and the police. It was noted repeatedly that I was very cooperative. I paid a $100 dollar fine + the retail price of the pencil. I didn't deny anything since they had store security footage. I am 19 years old.
    I have a court date in a month. The officer made it sound like I would most likely get a class C misdemeanor and whatever punishment was deemed necessary. Is there ANY way that I can keep this off my criminal record? I'm a 4.0 student, involved in tons of extracurriculars, I volunteer in the community, I've never done anything like this before (clean record), and never plan to again. I would do 1000 hours of community service or whatever it takes. I just feel like if this goes on my record-even if I explain to potential future employers that it was just a stupid mistake (and just a single pencil)-it will severely impact the rest of my life. Please give me any possible advice for the court date.
    Note: So far I have not told anyone a reason for the theft, I've just said that "I wasn't thinking". There was technically a very long line at the bookstore, and I did have somewhere I needed to be. Would it be better to state this reason (at the court date)? Or would it be detrimental/seem devious at this point, since I didn't previously volunteer that information?

    Thank you all so much for everything.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    18,340

    Default Re: Shoplifted a Pencil. Anything I Can Do (Oregon)

    Is there ANY way that I can keep this off my criminal record? I'm a 4.0 student, involved in tons of extracurriculars, I volunteer in the community, I've never done anything like this before (clean record), and never plan to again. I would do 1000 hours of community service or whatever it takes. I just feel like if this goes on my record-even if I explain to potential future employers that it was just a stupid mistake (and just a single pencil)-it will severely impact the rest of my life.
    We get the exact same sob story every time a shoplifter posts on one of these legal websites.

    You get the Darwin Award and an entry in the Guiness Book of World Records for stealing something as cheap as a pencil.

    The penalty for a Class C Misdemeanor is $1250.

    https://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/161.635

    You can get the conviction expunged from your criminal record after 3 years from the date of the judgment "as long as you have complied (completed all probation, community service, paid all your fines, etc.) with all terms of your sentence and have not been arrested within the last three years. You cannot have any criminal cases pending against you in any court. Also, you must have no other convictions, besides certain traffic violations, within the last ten years. You must not have had any other convictions set aside in the ten year period immediately preceding the filing of your motion. If you do not meet all of the applicable requirements your case may not be eligible to be expunged."

    http://www.courts.oregon.gov/Marion/...ngementFAQ.pdf

    If you get acquitted or get a dismissal you can file to have the record expunged immediately.

    As for your trial, I strongly suggest you hire a criminal defense attorney. You've already said and done enough to guarantee a conviction unless a smart lawyer has some way of getting you out from under.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Posts
    473

    Default Re: Shoplifting from a University Bookstore

    Quote Quoting student4938
    View Post
    Hi everyone,

    I was in my university's bookstore, I needed a pencil for some design class, and I put it in my pocket and left. I was stopped, the event was filed with the school and the police. It was noted repeatedly that I was very cooperative. I paid a $100 dollar fine + the retail price of the pencil. I didn't deny anything since they had store security footage. I am 19 years old.
    I have a court date in a month. The officer made it sound like I would most likely get a class C misdemeanor and whatever punishment was deemed necessary. Is there ANY way that I can keep this off my criminal record? I'm a 4.0 student, involved in tons of extracurriculars, I volunteer in the community, I've never done anything like this before (clean record), and never plan to again. I would do 1000 hours of community service or whatever it takes. I just feel like if this goes on my record-even if I explain to potential future employers that it was just a stupid mistake (and just a single pencil)-it will severely impact the rest of my life. Please give me any possible advice for the court date.
    Note: So far I have not told anyone a reason for the theft, I've just said that "I wasn't thinking". There was technically a very long line at the bookstore, and I did have somewhere I needed to be. Would it be better to state this reason (at the court date)? Or would it be detrimental/seem devious at this point, since I didn't previously volunteer that information?

    Thank you all so much for everything.
    Do NOT offer up that flimsy excuse. ALL of us have been inconvenienced by long lines, yet only a few think it gives them a license to steal. I guarantee that the judge has heard every excuse under the sun; yours is not a compelling one. At all.

    If you really want to keep this off your record, your best bet is through an attorney.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2018
    Posts
    2

    Default Re: Shoplifting from a University Bookstore

    I'm now regretting talking to the police officer at all. Since I did tell him what happened honestly (they had security footage, like I said), is it even possible for an attorney to get it dismissed?
    Thank you for your response.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    355

    Default Re: Shoplifting from a University Bookstore

    You did not tell us your state. Some jurisdictions have diversion programs that allow first-time offenders to complete certain conditions and then the charges are dropped. Things like taking a retail theft class, community service, a reality check program for youthful offenders, etc. You would do well to consult an attorney to explore the possibilities in your specific county. If you can't afford a lawyer the court will appoint one. This can affect your entire future, so you need to be very careful in how you proceed. You need an attorney much more than you realize. And hopefully you've learned that there's nothing in the bookstore, Walmart, Target, or any other store that is worth ruining your life over.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    19,901

    Default Re: Shoplifting from a University Bookstore

    Oregon. They had put it in the subject line, but the MODS in their infinite wisdom deleted it when the rewrote the thread title.

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