Contact Our New Brunswick Office to Speak to a Former Director in the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office About Your Third Degree Shoplifting Offense
If you were charged with shoplifting merchandise with a value in excess of $750, you are facing a third degree crime. This grade of shoplifting in Woodbridge, Edison, East Brunswick or elsewhere in Middlesex County, is a felony that carries penalties that include years in New Jersey State Prison. Avoiding a third degree conviction for shoplifting certainly hinges, at least in part, on your hiring the best defense lawyer you can find to defend you. Our firm, The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, has an extremely high level of experience defending shoplifting charges at the New Brunswick NJ Superior Court (a.k.a. Middlesex County Superior Court) in is ready to fight to obtain the very best outcome on your behalf.
Criminal Lawyers With Exceptional Qualifications for Defending Third Degree Shoplifting Charges in Middlesex County
Our team of highly experienced shoplifting attorneys has credentials that are truly unique and unparalleled in our estimation. We offer our clients:
- Over 200 years of combined experience defending criminal charges for shoplifting throughout Middlesex County
- 15 lawyers that limit their practices exclusively to representation of those charged with violating the law
- Former Municipal Prosecutors in Edison, East Brunswick, Piscataway, Woodbridge, South Brunswick, New Brunswick, Sayreville and other area towns
- Jason Seidman, a Former Director in the Middlsesex County Prosecutor’s Office
- Certified criminal trial attorneys
- A rich history of favorable outcomes in shoplifting cases at the Middlesex County Superior Court in New Brunswick
An attorney on our staff is ready to assist you immediately by contacting our New Brunswick Office at 732-246-7126. Initial consultations are always free of charge so do not hesitate to give us a call whenever the need arises.
Third Degree Shoplifting Under N.J.S.A. 2C:20-11
In accordance with N.J.S.A. 2C:20-11, there are essentially seven (7) ways an individual can commit a shoplifting and it to be a third degree crime. An individual can purposely take or attempt to take merchandise. They may also commit a shoplifting by concealing merchandise, alter price tags, under-ring merchandise, transfer goods to another container, or steal shopping carts. The seventh way a shoplifting can be a third degree is where the accused is a member of an organized retail theft enterprise.
When Is Shoplifting a Third Degree Crime?
Whenever an individual commits one of the acts set forth above and the merchandise involved as a value in excess of $750 but less than $75,000, it is a third degree crime. In determining whether the merchandise falls within the third degree shoplifting range, the full retail value of the merchandise is utilized.
Penalties for Third Degree Shoplifting
The fine for a third degree is up to $15,000. A state prison term of five (5) years may also be imposed. In addition, there is a period of community service that must be completed. The community service is ten days for a first offense, 15 days for a second offense, and up to 25 days for a third offense.
Restrictions on Downgrading
In accordance with guidelines set by the Attorney General, a third degree shoplifting charge is not to be downgraded to a disorderly persons shoplifting offense and remanded to municipal court if the merchandise has a value of $2,000 or more.
Other Considerations Regarding Third Degree Shoplifting
- Presumption That Applies When Merchandise Is Concealed. If someone conceals merchandise, the law presumes that their intention was to shoplift the item(s). And it should be point out that the person need not leave the store in order for this presumption to trigger.
- Detention by Loss Prevention or Law Enforcement. Under N.J.S.A. 2C:20-11, a police officer, loss prevention officer or even a merchant, can detain and/or arrest an individual provided they possess probable cause to believe that they have committed a shoplifting.
- Forfeiture of Public Employment or Public Office. If you are convicted of a third degree shoplifting, you are required by NJ law to forfeit your public employment or public office. In this regard, N.J.S.A. 2C:51-2 mandates that anyone convicted of an offense involving “dishonesty” or a crime of the third degree or above cannot maintain office or governmental employment. If you have been charged with shoplifting and the grade of the offense is third or above, you must win your case and/or obtaining Pretrial Intervention. Absent a dismissal or avoidance of a conviction through PTI, you must forfeit your position under 2C:51-2.
Shoplifting Defense Lawyers in New Brunswick NJ
While the aforesaid information is helpful in understanding a shoplifting offense which is a third degree, you certainly may have more detailed questions. Lawyers are available 24/7 to assist you by calling our New Brunswick Office at 732-246-7126. We defend indictable shoplifting charges arising throughout Middlesex County including in North Brunswick, Piscataway and Monroe. A lawyer is ready to formulate an effective plan to achieve the most favorable outcome of your case.
Additional Shoplifting Resources To Assist You
