I will explain the situation and then hopefully someone advices me as to the best course of action. I was at Monmouth mall in new jersey with my girlfriend. I went to Suncoast. I left the store through the mall and into Lord and Taylor. As I was walking I noticed a man behind me with something in his hand. I walked around then went to the lower level and he was still following me around. I walked outside even though it was not my exit. There as I walked through the parking lot a security guard car was there and he stopped and asked if everything was okay. I walked up to him and told him that the man was harrassing me. He told us to separate, so I went to the other side ofhis car. The man said I stole a DVD from suncoast, apparently that is what was in his hand. Needless to say I did not. None the less the cops came and I was booked at the precinct. I have court appearance this coming thursday. There was no camera in the store and the only ones in the mall show him with it
2007-04-08 01:35:44 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I have no prior criminal charges or arrests as well. There were 4 security guards to testify on my behalf and even a taxi driver that was there that I later called to pick me up and drive me back from the precinct to my car back at the mall, where my girlfriend was still waiting. The cameras also show this man with the DVDs the whole time. I am not guilty but I am afraid this may ruin my life and attempts to get into graduate school in the future. What should I do at court? I have watched SVU and I have seen there that if there is no proof against a defendant, the case is simply dismissed. I have never been arrested and had to go to court so I have no idea what to do. When I do get freed, as I am sure I will eventually, when can I counter sue them. I live in the Poconos and was there visiting Monmouth. I will be losing a day of classes and work, I have to drive all the way down there and then back up. Someone please advice me as to the ebst course of action!!!!!!!!!!!!
2007-04-08 01:56:37 · update #1
The cop patted me down and foudn no DVD on me as it was int eh case held be the employee.
2007-04-08 01:58:47 · update #2
What happened to the employee, nothing. He works there so why would they charge him, of course the cops made him come down and sing the summons. I asled the cop what would happen if he didn't come down and he said that he will make him as he had already started writing everything in the computer.
2007-04-08 01:59:56 · update #3
The DVD or the case and even the shrink wrap was never in my possession. It was in this man's hands at all times and even when I was taken to the precinct and the officer questioned me as to when they took it from me, I told him it was never taken from me as I never had it on my person, he looked at me startled.
2007-04-08 14:15:39 · update #4
What happened to the guy who was following you? How did he have the DVD you supposedly stole? I don't quite follow this story.
2007-04-08 01:43:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
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2016-06-11 04:09:57 · answer #2 · answered by Roxann 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please please please, never take legal advice from TV shows. The legal community laugh and scoff at them because they aren't even close depicting how the legal system truly is.
I would suggest getting a lawyer. A lawyer should have an investigator find out of this person was an employee at Suncoast or not. If he's not, then he'll look like a major weirdo.
Was your girlfriend with you at the time? Can she testify she is very certain you did not steal the DVD? Can she testify that the guy oddly followed you around? Are DVDs electronically tagged so if they're stolen, it sets off an alarm?
Why didn't the guy alert security right away? Why did he follow you around without saying anything until you got scared and alerted security yourself? If the cameras only show him holding the DVDs, then how did you have them in your possession?
Get a lawyer hon. You should know that your lack of a criminal history will help you a great deal.
2007-04-08 03:11:50 · answer #3 · answered by Lisa S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have to go to court, make sure you counter-sue. There really shouldn't be any way they can bust you if they didn't even find the stolen items on you. You're right, though. Should be an open and shut case, almost unfortunate that they could even try that. The only way you should have any problems here is if you're being completely railroaded by the system.
Fight it, fight it hard. Like I said, have your lawyer draw up a counter claim. At the very least for the price of the lawyer.
2007-04-08 14:03:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you don't have much money (if under 18, I'm not sure if your parents means are taken into account), you are entitled to a lawyer at no cost (usually called a public defender).
There also may be a law school or "legal aid society" nearby that could help advise you. Try this website for starters:
http://www.lsnj.org/index.cfm
From your description, I don't think I would want to plead guilty or no contest to anything. It's possible the prosecutor will decide not to pursue the case on their own, but if it were me, I would definitely want to talk to a lawyer.
2007-04-08 01:56:01 · answer #5 · answered by SpaceSquirrel 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No camera in the store, but the mall one only showed him with it? Sounds like there's no proof. Your girlfriend was with you right? She can be a witness that you didn't do it. The security guards didnt see you have it either right, only that other guy? Then they can be witnesses too. Was the other guy an employee at suncoast? Or just some other guy who had a movie. Maybe the dude was just stalking you.
2007-04-08 01:45:24 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't believe your story, and I don't believe a judge will either.
Why would a salesperson or store manager pick a customer out at random, follow him through two stores and accuse him of theft with no evidence?
Why would police make an arrest based on a "his word against yours" basis?
Sounds like he was carrying the empty case. You had the disk.
My advice is to not go before the judge with such a lame-o story.
2007-04-08 01:43:54 · answer #7 · answered by chocolahoma 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Get a continuance in court then get a lawyer - this could get expensive. But the conviction will stay with you the rest of your life and affect future jobs and promotions and you can't afford that. Your story sounds fishy.
2007-04-08 01:42:28 · answer #8 · answered by pilot 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you cannot afford a lawyer then look up the Legal Aid Society nearest you and call them.
2007-04-08 01:43:40 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
A lawyer may be expensive, but you dont want something as trivial as shoplifting on your record. You will be fine, I believe you
2007-04-08 01:40:42 · answer #10 · answered by steak 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋