Our Former Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Are Ready To Defend Your Shoplifting Charge in Old Bridge
Whether its someone shoplifting bottles of Hennessy at a local liquor store, stealing a shirt at Banana Republic at the Shoppes in Old Bridge or some other scenario, a shoplifting conviction can have serious ramifications. You will have a record for stealing that can effect your ability to obtain or maintain employment. In addition, you are subject to significant penalties in Old Bridge Municipal Court for a disorderly persons offense for shoplifting and the consequences are even worse if the charge is an indictable crime of the fourth degree, third degree or second degree. For those faced with an arrest for shoplifting, hiring a lawyer who is familiar with both the court system and skilled in shoplifting defense is an imperative.
Lawyers With Exceptional Qualifications for Defending Your Old Bridge Shoplifting Case
Here at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, our attorneys possess both of these attributes as members of a team that has over 200 years of combined experience defending charges in Old Bridge. Lawyers on our staff also include former prosecutors, even one who was a director in the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, the agency at the helm of every felony shoplifting case charged in Old Bridge (e.g. third degree, fourth degree, or second degree crime for shoplifting). Contact our East Brunswick Office to speak to an attorney in a free initial consultation. An attorney is available now at 732-246-7126.
Shoplifting Offense in Old Bridge New Jersey
The shoplifting law that applies to your Old Bridge offense is contained at N.J.S.A. 2C:20-11. An individual shoplifts under this statute if they engage in any of the following acts:
- Purposely takes possession, carries away or transfers merchandise from a store for the purpose of depriving the merchants of its value;
- Purposely conceals merchandise with the intention of depriving the merchant of the benefit of the goods;
- Purposely alters or transfers a price tag or label to distort the true value of merchandise;
- Purposely transfers the box or container of merchandise in order to deprive the merchant of the true value of the goods;
- Purposely under-ringing merchandise; or
- Removing a shopping care from the premises of a retail establishment.
The severity of the penalties for this conduct hinge on the value of the merchandise stolen. Merchandise with a value of less than $200 results in a disorderly persons offense that falls within the local jurisdiction of the Old Bridge Municipal Court. You can be fined up to $1,000 and sent to the Middlesex County Jail for up to 6 months for a disorderly persons offense for shoplifting in Old Bridge. It is an indictable criminal charge to shoplift merchandise with a value of $200 or more and shoplifting cases falling within this realm may only be dealt with at the Criminal Division of the Middlesex County Superior Court. A fourth degree shoplifting offense, which applies where the merchandise has a value of at least $200 but less than $500, can result in a fine of up to $15,000 and up to 18 months in state prison. Shoplifting merchandise with a value of at least $500 but less than $75,000 is a third degree crime that carries up to 5 years of imprisonment and a maximum fine of $15,000. It is a second degree crime to shoplift merchandise having a value of $75,000 or more. The penalties for second degree shoplifting in Old Bridge include a fine that can reach $150,000 and 5-10 years in prison.
Old Bridge Shoplifting Defense Attorney
Our experience tells us that the greatest probability is that you are facing either a disorderly persons offense or third degree shoplifting charge in Old bridge. The odds are that the charge arose at a large retailer in the municipality since they have a higher volume of shoplifting. This would include Walmart in Old Bridge, Home Depot in Old Bridge, and Kohl’s Department Store in Old Bridge. Irrespective of the location and nature of your shoplifting offense in Old Bridge, representation from a skilled defense attorney is imperative to the protection of your future. The lawyers on the staff of the Marshall Law Firm include former prosecutors and other highly accomplished trial advocates that successfully defended individuals facing Old Bridge shoplifting charges for decades. To speak to a lawyer with the know how needed to thoroughly and effectively defend you, contact our New Brunswick Office at 732-210-6241 or another one of our locations for a free consultation.
