Rent a center said they were going to charge me with Stolen property... Does there have to be a certain value for it to be a criminal charge vs. a civil suit? What's the difference in civil suits or criminal suits because they're acting as if the police will just randomly pick me up anytime I'm in a traffic check or anything...
There is no specific value necessary for a criminal charge. Based on the facts provided, it is possible that you may be charged any number of offenses punishable as larceny, but most likely the store was speaking of failure to return rental property. If the value of the property is less than $200, then the charge is a misdemeanor. If the value of the property is $200 or more, then the charge is a felony. A “victim” initiates criminal charges by affirming an affidavit with the magistrate or by contacting a police agency. If you are charged criminally, the police will serve the warrant on you. If contacted by the police, do not make a statement. You need to consult with an attorney.
Conversely, a civil suit is filed with the court by a person seeking monetary damages.
If this is a follow up to your previous question, read previous counsel's answer which is accurate. If the police come with an arrest warrant, do not make any statement except that you stole nothing and you want a lawyer. Do not get goaded in to making a long rambling excuse about your boyfriend this and his friends that, ask for a lawyer. Just repeat you stole nothing. Good luck, you should have gotten a lawyer already.
A misdemeanor criminal charge would be something valued at less than $200. A felony misdemeanor charge is valued at more than $200.
Because Rent-A-Center allowed you and your ex to sign a contract and take the property AND you or your ex started making payments on it, I consider it to be a more appropriate issue for civil court than criminal court. Of course, I practice criminal defense law, so I may be rather biased.
If they want to, Rent-A-Center can pursue both a criminal and civil case against you, but they will have to convince a police officer or magistrate to issue the arrest warrant. They can only be paid for their loss once, meaning they can get restitution through a criminal court judge or they can get payment on a civil judgment. If they do succeed in getting an arrest warrant issued, you can be arrested at any time and any place.
Rent A Center is a bunch of crooks who got their collection actions declared a criminal offense, so the police and prosecutors do their dirty work for them. Filing a civil suit would require them to pay an attorney, whereas charging you with crimes doesn't cost them anything.
So, they will charge you with the crimes.
If they get warrants against you, the police can arrest you on those warrants wherever they find you, including at a traffic stop.
First, you have just posted that you were charged with a crime. Get a criminal defense attorney NOW and do not delay.
Second, for general information purposes, there is not a monetary threshold beyond which something is criminal. Conduct is criminal or it is not. For a larceny type offense, there is a $200 threshold in some of the larceny statutes that elevates a simple larceny to a felony.
