A client recently contacted our Hackensack NJ office who was charged with shoplifting after a store in Paramus claimed that she took a designer handbag from the store without paying for it.  If convicted of that shoplifting offense, our client could have faced between 3-5 years in prison and up to a $15,000 fine.  She would also have had a third degree felony conviction on her criminal history for a minimum of 5 years before being eligible to expunge the record. In addition, our client had multiple shoplifting convictions on her record. After a 3rd or subsequent shoplifting conviction in New Jersey, you must serve a minimum of ninety (90) days in the county jail as a sentence for the conviction. Thus, the stakes were very high for her in this case.

Through careful negotiation and trial strategy, our firm was able to have the charge downgraded to a disorderly persons offense, which carries maximum penalties of up to six months in the county jail and a fine of up to $1,000. The case was downgraded from a third degree felony charge which must be handled in the Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, and transferred to the Paramus Municipal Court as a misdemeanor (disordertly persons) charge.

Once the case was downgraded and sent back to the municipal court, our firm was able to successfully petition the Court to dismiss the case on the day it was scheduled for trial.  As a result, the case was dismissed and our client avoided the possibility of jail time, financial penalties, and having a conviction on her criminal history.

If you or a loved one is charged with shoplifting in Parmaus NJ, contact our criminal defense attorneys now for immediate assistance at 201-556-1570.