My friend and I were charged with larceny in the 6th degree after stealing some groceries from Stop & Shop. The arresting officer did not let us give information to him and as a result he only copied what was on my license.
I'm a student and this was my first offense, and I am concerned about a civil demand being sent to my home address (as opposed to my school address). What is the likelihood that Stop & Shop will send a civil demand if the items stolen amount to less than $60? We were released after booking with a PTA and have a community court appointment. Do we need an attorney to get Accelerated Rehabilitation, and is there any chance that the charges will be dropped without consequence? We're two 20-year-old college girls with no priors and no intention of ever shoplifting again.
Two bits of advice. First, see a local Criminal Law attorney near you right away. Second, don't talk about this on the internet. Discussing potential criminal charges or penalties at online forums can be risky. If your concern is about potential criminal issues, then you should not talk about it on the Internet at all. Instead, you should talk to a criminal law lawyer near you, right away. Many investigators now check social media and Q&A websites when they are investigating a possible defendant, looking for questions that may indicate possible guilt or damaging admissions that can be gleaned from questions posted online.
I do not know what your circumstance is or if you are inquiring only generally or perhaps for another person who was wondering. Regardless, you should talk to a local criminal law attorney near you right away. If you cannot afford one, then as soon as you stand up in court, say that you cannot afford an attorney and want one to be appointed to represent you.
That is the first thing you should say and pretty much the only thing you should say. Call your local attorney's Bar Association and ask for a referral to a Criminal Law attorney near you or for the name of the local "public defender" or ask how to get a court appointed attorney. You need to understand how to do this process before you get in the courtroom and do it wrong.
I agree completely with Attorney Burdge's advice! Do not write about this on the Internet! However, you shouldn't wait to speak to a lawyer until after you go to court. You should speak to someone right now. Everything you say to a prosecutor can be used against you.
An attorney can discuss the options with you. Is AR the answer? Maybe. But, since you are in Hartford, there are other options that may be available. It is impossible to tell without sitting down and evaluating the case. Further, your attorney will help you decide how to handle that Civil Demand from Stop & Shop.
Robert L FiedlerFamily Law AttorneyNew Britain, CT ·
While I agree with the answers in general that fellow counsel have given, I have two additional pieces of advice. First, if they are looking for $60, just pay it! It does not "pay" to get yourself in any trouble for that little amount of money. Second, if you are in community court, there is a likelihood that you can do some community service through that court and have the charges dismissed without using an AR program.
Go to court, see what they have to offer, and make a decision based on what will get this over with the fastest with no record of conviction. I am certain that the court does not want to ruin your life over $60.
