My question involves criminal law for the state of: Texas
I recently was arrested for theft between 1,500 and 20,000, which is a state jail felony in Texas. I understand the potential punishement for the charges I am facing. I have obtained a lawyer and I am currently in the plea negotiation portion of the process. I have no record and a small business owner and member of my community.
The question I have involves the police report and type of theft involved with my case. Basically the retail store called the police out to investigate multiple returns made by myself over a six month period from October 08 to June 09. There were a total of 11 returns the majority being over the holiday season. Anyways the police conducted the investigation, in which I was never question or contacted and it took a total of five months.
I was indicted and received the discovery for my case. Nowhere is it mentioned in the discovery what type of retail theft is involved. The merchandise was not defective, altertered, or misrepresented in anyway, the police did not take any of it into evidence and the police narrative specifically states that the floor counts for the store were not off. I have receipts for a few of the returns, but being as it has been over a year between the return and now some receipts are missing. If the store is not accusing me of stealing merchandise from them or returning stolen merchandise from another source, how is this theft? Merchandise was returned and accepted.
Any incite or thoughts into what type of retail theft this is and is a return receipt a binding contract? Also the police report totals the amount of the retail value for all 11 returns which was a little over $3000, but if the merchandise was immediately put back on the shelf and sold, how can they claim they are out this full retail value amount?

