Walk It Through: The Shoplifting Stop
Stopped at the door, a back office search, a small charge, and a record years later.
Leaving a store, a shopper is stopped by a loss prevention employee who says an item went into a coat pocket.
Two things a person in this spot might do. Picking one shows what the law says about it.
A first shoplifting stop over a small item. A civil demand letter from the store, a felony theft, and a deferred judgment are not worked through here.
A practice walkthrough, not a prediction of how any real one will go. Legal information, not legal advice.
Words this turns on
Terms with a legal meaning that is narrower than the everyday one. Each links to the definition and the authority behind it.
- Aggravated misdemeanorThe highest level of misdemeanor, with up to two years and a fine of $855 to $8,540 where no specific penalty is given.
- Class D felonyThe lowest class of felony, with up to five years and a fine of $1,025 to $10,245; a felony declared without a class is a class D felony.
- Serious misdemeanorThe middle level of misdemeanor, with a fine of $430 to $2,560 and up to one year in jail.
- Simple misdemeanorThe lowest level of public offense, carrying a fine of $105 to $855, with up to 30 days in jail in place of or beside the fine.
- AssaultAn act meant to cause pain, injury or offensive contact, or to put someone in fear of it, with the apparent ability to carry it out; or intentionally pointing a firearm at someone or displaying a dangerous weapon threateningly.
- Domestic abuse assaultAn assault between people in a domestic relationship, a simple misdemeanor for a first offense, rising with bodily injury, a weapon, intent to seriously injure, or pressure on the throat or neck.
- ExpungementThe court's removal of a misdemeanor conviction from public view on application, once more than eight years have passed and the listed conditions are met.