Re: Shoplifted

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On 1/30/06, kcm wrote:
> Nothing, just avoid that store forever in your town.
>
> On 1/30/06, scared wrote:
>> In June of 2005 i shoplifted less than $20 from wal-mart.
>> LP took my picture & info and told me i would receieve a
>> civil demand. [no police involved] 3 weeks later i got it
>> and paid it right away. I have yet to hear anything else
>> and i was wondering what the chances are that charges
>> could be brought up?

It may depend on what state you live in or that particular
store's policy. Where I live, Walmart sends that letter but
they also vigarously prosecute in the local court. If the
letter says basically "pay it and we won't prosecute," whatever
you do hold onto that letter. It might be a get out of jail
free card, although I doubt that would be all that it would
take to get charges dropped. They're not allowed (in my state
anyway) to threaten criminal charges to settle a civil matter,
which is basically what it looks like they're doing. Stay out
of Walmart, never shoplift again (hopefully it was a
frightening and humiliating expereince that you never want to
repeat) and don't talk to anyone but a lawyer about it.
Different states have different statutes of limitations (the
time limits on when they can prosecute a crime) but I would bet
that your state's at least one year. If you don't hear
anything by June 06 you can breathe easy, they're probably not
going to press criminal charges.