• FreeAdvice has a new Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, effective May 25, 2018.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our Terms of Service and use of cookies.

shoplifting (please help)

Accident - Bankruptcy - Criminal Law / DUI - Business - Consumer - Employment - Family - Immigration - Real Estate - Tax - Traffic - Wills   Please click a topic or scroll down for more.

Law_newbie

Junior Member
What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state? CA
My cousin went to the store with her husband (and her infant) few weeks ago. She took some stuffs around $24 without her husband knowledge (actually she get them for the baby to play but forget about it. She does not need that). Security guards stoped them at the cars. They told them if she signs the admiting papers they will not call polices and this paper is just between her and the company. They also said if they call the police she will get into jail and the police may take away her child (I know it is wrong but they did not know about it since they never deal with polices or any situation like this). So, she decided to sign. They gave her one page information about the law in recovering their cost in CA (they are allowed to bill her from 50-500 to recover for their lost).
She is now scared to dead. She wonder :
1) If they bill her the recover cost and she will pay for that, does the state know about that and take her to court for criminal charge?
2) Does she have any ways to check if they report the incident to the state DA office?
3) Is it affected her husband since he was with her at that time? She worries that this could affect her husband (note: they did not accuse her husband for any stealing but he stayed there to help her go through this case).

Thank you,
 


JETX

Senior Member
Law_newbie said:
If they bill her the recover cost and she will pay for that, does the state know about that and take her to court for criminal charge?
It is possible... but not likely for the to press charges once restitution has been paid.

Does she have any ways to check if they report the incident to the state DA office?
Not really.... especially if her concern is the 'state' knowing about it as asked in your previous question.

Is it affected her husband since he was with her at that time?
Though they might have been able to pursue him if on some claim that he was aware at the time, it is unlikely as they haven't done anything.
 

Law_newbie

Junior Member
Additional question

I have talked with some friends and tried to do some research/read messages from this forum. It seems

1) From now on, if she does not receive any ticket or letter from DA office for court date, she will be fine. The question is in what time frame she could know that she will be fine? Is it 1 year for california Law?

2) If the store does not press charge her, could the state pursue it themselves?

Thanks,
 

JETX

Senior Member
Law_newbie said:
I have talked with some friends and tried to do some research/read messages from this forum. It seems

1) From now on, if she does not receive any ticket or letter from DA office for court date, she will be fine. The question is in what time frame she could know that she will be fine? Is it 1 year for california Law?

2) If the store does not press charge her, could the state pursue it themselves?

Thanks,
Already asked and answered.
 

Find the Right Lawyer for Your Legal Issue!

Fast, Free, and Confidential
data-ad-format="auto">
Top