Re: Shoplifting in Ohio

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I wouldn't worry about intent. Intent is inferred from the
circumstances and the act itself because it's not amenable
to direct proof. Here, you took the tags off a piece of the
store's merch-which you wouldn't do if you were just "trying
it on". Then, you put your coat on over it. Then you headed
for the exit. Your intent couldn't be clearer, and I am
guessing they have you on videotape.

I doubt the court will just dismiss the case says it's all a
big misunderstanding, etc etc.

Maybe you do not think it's a big deal right now but you
will have a lifetime of explaining to do if this is reduced
to judgment. It's an offense of dishonesty and moral
turpitude. Do not randomly call an attorney out of the phone
book. They can't guarantee anything. Get yourself the most
competent attorney you can and beg or borrow the money but
for christ's sake don't go walking out of the store with
your trousers full of iPods to finance this expedition.

Start reordering your thinking about contriteness and
humility because that's what you'll need to show if you want
into a diversion program.

On 11/02/05, ohiofemale wrote:
> I am 21 year old female in Ohio and I was stopped by loss-
> prevention employees in a department store yesterday. I
> had gone into a dressing room, removed the tags of a
> sweater, put the sweater on and then put my coat on over
> the sweater. I then left the dressing room and put the
> tags of the sweater into a pair of pants. I walked out
> the first set of doors to the store,9the doors before the
> actual outside door) and the loss prevention woman
> approached me. They told me they had video surveillance
> of me placing the tags of a sweater I did not pay for in
> another pair of jeans and walking out with the sweater.
> However, all through the process I denied intentional
> guilt and said it was unintentional and I didn't realize I
> was walking off with the sweater. They came back holding
> video tapes but I don't know of they were simply bluffing
> with these tapes. They called the police and gave me a
> blue ticket and I am scheduled to appear in court in two
> days. I went to speak to some run-of-the-mill phone book
> criminal attorney, and he told me his fee was a flat $500,
> that he would most likely "win" the case, etc. Was he
> telling me th truth or just trying to get my money? My
> main question is...what do I do? Is it worth it to pay
> for the attorney, since I intend to plead not guilty. In
> Ohio am I qualified for this "diversion" I am reading
> about? This is my first offense and after the officer
> read me my Miranda Rights I told him I had no intent to
> steal the sweater, there was no malice, it was a
> misunderstanding, etc. Does the fact that I told the
> police officer that I had no "intent" of stealing the
> sweater matter. Isn't stealing based in "intent" anyway?
> Basically, can the $500 attorney help me, is he worth it?
> And ultimately, what can he in theory do to reduce the
> charges.
> Please help, I really need to know of it is worth the $500
> attorney fee.
> Any advice appreciated.