Got caught shop lifting at Kohl's ($231.00 worth of stuff) yesterday. They stopped me outside & I was going to run but didn't (are they allowed to chase me?). She asked for my mother's cellphone # since I'm only 17 & I didn't give it to her. She then called the cops on me & they took me in to the precinct handcuffed. I had to sit in a cell for 2-3 hours then my mom came. They gave me a court date but I would like to know what to expect beforehand.
Richard C. SouthardCriminal Defense AttorneyNew York, NY ·
Yes. They have a right to chase you. You will be charged with petit larceny and criminal possession of stolen property. These are both class A misdemeanors punishable up to one year jail and $1000 fine or up to 3 years probation. because of your age, you will be given youthful offender treatment and jail is extremely unlikely. However, you should consider hiring a private lawyer who will likely be able to get all the charges dismissed assuming you take a class, do some community service and stay out of trouble for six months.
At the court date you will be arraigned (have the charges read to you and give you a chance to enter a plea) and bail will be set. You will likely be ROR which means basically no bail. This is a criminal offense and you should hire an attorney to help get this dismissed. You will probably have to complete some amount of community service, maybe complete a class about shoplifting, and payback anything if the store can't resell what you took.
Unfortunately, not giving your mom's cellphone number might have made them decide to call the police instead of just your parents. And yes they can chase you if you steal from them. A lot of people would steal if all you had to do was make it outside.
Hire a crimianl attorney to ensure you don't end up with a criminal record and stop these juvenile acts. Im also changing it to criminal defense since you are an adult in NY for criminal purposes at 16.
If this is your first offense, you would likely be eligible for an adjournment in contemplation of a dismissal. This means that if you stay out of trouble for a certain period of time, the judge will dismiss the case. You should consult with a criminal defense lawyer who can advocate on your behalf.
There are several possibilities as to what will occur. On the first day in court you will likely receive a copy of the complaint that spells out the charges. They may also make an offer for you to plead. It depends on whether or not this is your first offense. The suggestion is that you ar least consult with an attorney prior to court. A consultation is usually free. If you can't afford an attorney then the court will assign you one on the date you are required to appear
You should get an attorney if you can afford one. On your first court date, you will go in front of a judge and will enter a plea of not guilty. Your attorney may be able to get the case resolved there, or you might have to come back for another court appearance. It is possible for an attorney can get the case dismissed and sealed. If you hire an attorney, they will walk you through the process of what will happen.
Depending on the exact facts of the case you'll likely be offered a Disorderly Conduct or an Adjournment in Contemplation of Dismissal. Either of these could include community service or the Stoplift program. Neither result in a criminal record. Get yourself a good attorney right away to try and work something out before court so you know where you stand.
