Results 1 to 3 of 3
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Northern Michigan
    Posts
    2

    Default Retail Fraud at Office Max

    Hi all,

    ... "Calling for help, calling for help, emergency, emergency, respond right away..."

    My background:

    I am an out of work IT Professional. Lost my job way back in 2000 while living and working in San Francisco during the hype of the .dot com industry when it went bust. Soon burned through all my savings and retirement funds. Stayed with friends coast to coast looking for work. (its difficult when you are 47 and now have a six year gap in your employment history).

    Then I went and did something stupid that shames me worse and I am scared what will happen next.

    -----

    THE CRIME: Retail Fraud, second degree.

    First some more background. Being a now very stale out of work network admin and such, (a very fical industry if you do not keep your skills up to date mind you). I am so over being broke and unable to keep my skills up to date and sharp. I heard that the local Traverse City Office Max is going out of business and mark downs up to 40%. Finally, I might be able to use a VISA gift card a friend gave me for Xmas for me to use.

    I wanted to see how marked down their networking products were marked down and perhaps finally get some equipment to rebuild a home networking system. I never went in with the intention to shoplift. I did not see any markdown tags on any of the networking stuff. But the store was half shut down and old, even previously opened returned products were on the shelves.

    Well, something had me open one of the boxes, yes in plain view, to examine a router, which I placed in my pocket and I hid the box and walked around the store feeling scared, guilty, buzzed sick. etc.

    Stupidly thinking the store is shutting down anyway, this stuff liquidated on eBay or something, so I went back to the network section and opened and a PC network card box.

    Someone came up behind me and scared me half to death, "can I help you .... " I swung around and for some stupid reason pocked the card. He said, let me see whats in your pocket, and without hesitation or story, I showed him. He made no delay to take to the front of the store and sit while he called the police. He was only the Regional Inventory guy and not a local employee at the store.

    The officer arrived and I showed him what I had. The retail cost was just over $200.00 and I was charged with Retail Fraud 2nd degree. Taken to jail and had to stay a day with 13 other guys all laying on mats on the floor in a 12x12 room which had not been cleaned in days.

    Anyhoo, I have no record and always been the good guy. I don't know what to expect, i don't know what i should do, i do not want a misdemeanor mark on my record, its already difficult enough finding employment without a background check to makes things worse. I have no money for legal assistance.

    My arraignment is Friday Morning, Mar 31, 2006.

    How should I plea? Guilty, Not guilty, use the No-contest plea (we have two flavors in Mich, Alford and Non-Condendere). I don't want this to drag on, but I definetely do not want a confiction or time in jail. I did not walk out of the store with items, no opportunity to change my mind and take the items out of my pocket. I was told the items were actually on mark down, ask to pay for them (too late they said) and if they totaled the value to the mark down price, it would be a lesser degree, but they used the retail cost.

    I dunno, I am so naive in this area, as I never thought I'd be here in this position. Any suggestions? I'm reading as much as i can on the internet - time running out - confused me.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    California
    Posts
    1,206

    Default flippant

    If you don't mind my saying so, you sound a little bit flippant about the whole thing...... :roll:

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    28,906

    Default

    At your arraignment you should have the opportunity to petition for a court appointed lawyer. It would be a good idea to do so, and to discuss your options with the lawyer before you decide what plea to enter.

    1. Sponsored Links
       

Similar Threads

  1. Fraud: Child Support Office Threating Me with Welfare Fraud
    By Angela1985 in forum Criminal Charges
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 05-18-2011, 08:03 PM
  2. Fraud: Retail Fraud
    By luckylady517 in forum Criminal Charges
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 02-05-2010, 01:48 AM
  3. Retail Fraud / Shoplifting: Retail Fraud2nd 4days Later Retail Fraud 2 Again
    By missheather in forum Criminal Charges
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 10-14-2008, 11:38 PM
  4. Retail Fraud / Shoplifting: Difference between retail fraud and attempted retail fraud
    By RobinBoro in forum Criminal Charges
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 11-01-2005, 12:56 PM
  5. Retail Fraud / Shoplifting: Retail Fraud
    By jeremysnissan in forum Criminal Charges
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 03-04-2005, 08:53 PM
 
 
Sponsored Links

Legal Help, Information and Resources