Wall Shoplifting Defense Attorney

Shoplifting Charge in Wall New Jersey

The Former Prosecutor of Wall Township Is Ready To Defend Your Shoplifting Offense

The are plenty of retailers in Wall New Jersey, including Kmart, TJ Max, Whole Foods, Acme and Super Foodtown, making it a prime target for shoplifting. If you had a lapse in judgment, mistakenly removed merchandise from a store without paying or were charged with shoplifting in Wall under any other circumstance, an attorney at The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall is equipped to defend your charge. As lawyers that have been handling shoplifting charges for decades in Wall Municipal Court and other locations in Monmouth County, we know that there are countless explanations for why someone can becoming embroiled in a N.J.S.A. 2C:20-11 case. The key for anyone in this position is to formulate an effective defense so a conviction and criminal record is avoided. A skilled lawyer is the best weapon in reach this objective and the is exactly what you will find at our firm. Contact our Wall Office at 732-449-2292 for a free consultation.

Wall Shoplifting Offense

Under N.J.S.A. 2C:20-11, an individual is exposed to a Wall shoplifting offense if they engage in conduct falling in one of six categories. The following acts constitute shoplifting under New Jersey Law:

  1. Purposely removing merchandise from a store for the purpose of depriving the merchant of its value;
  2. Concealing merchandise;
  3. Swapping price tags to distort the true value of merchandise;
  4. Changing the box or other packaging of an items to distort value;
  5. Under-ringing merchandise; or
  6. Stealing a shopping cart.

The conduct can result in a disorderly persons offense or a crime of the fourth degree, third degree or second degree, depending on the value of the merchandise. It is a disorderly persons offense falling under the jurisdiction of Wall Municipal Court to shoplifting goods with a value of less than $200. Merchandise with a value of at least $200 but less than $500 results in a fourth degree crime. When the property stolen from a retailer is at least $500 but less than $75,000, the shoplifting results in a third degree crime. Shoplifting merchandise with a value of $75,000 or more is a second degree crime.

The penalties for shoplifting vary by the degree of offense. A second degree shoplifting results in 5-10 years in prison and a fine of up to $150,000. The fine is up to $15,000 and the prison sentence can reach 5 years for a third degree shoplifting. When someone is convicted of fourth degree shoplifting, they are subject to a fine of up to $10,000 and up to 18 months in prison. The lowest grade of shoplifting someone can face in Wall Township is a disorderly persons offense under 2C:20-11. The penalties for a disorderly persons offense for shoplifting includes a fine of up to $1,000 and up to 6 months in the Monmouth County Jail.

An individual can apply for either Conditional Dismissal or Pretrial Intervention to avoid the penalties just described. Both of these diversion programs are limited to first time offenders and require that an individual complete a period of probation that is usually one year.

Shoplifting convictions are also capable of being expunged. The minimum waiting period before someone can secure an expungement (i.e. sealing or removing the conviction from your record) is five years from the date of completion of all supervision and payment of fines.

A shoplifting conviction in Wall or anywhere else can be especially problematic for someone who is a public employee. State law requires forfeiture of public employment in many instances in the event of a plea or finding of guilty to shoplifting.

Wall NJ Shoplifting Lawyer

Wall has one of the largest police departments in the county and also has many retail shopping venues. The combination makes for a considerable number of shoplifting charges. If you were arrested for shoplifting in Wall New Jersey, a lawyer with the skills to thoroughly defend you is available to discuss your case without obligation. the lawyers at our Wall Criminal Defense Firm are available 24/7 to review your case and answer your questions. Call 732-449-2292 to speak to an attorney immediately about the circumstances that resulted in your Wall shoplifting charge. Attorneys are awaiting your call now.

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