I need a lawyer for shoplifting charges at the Short Hills Mall
Millburn NJ Shoplifting Attorneys
The shoplifting defense lawyers at the Tormey Law Firm LLC succeeded in getting another case dismissed this week, this time at the Millburn Municipal Court. Our client was charged with shoplifting from the Short Hills Mall from Sephora and was being prosecuted for that charge in the Millburn Municipal Court located in Millburn, NJ. Because the amount of the alleged shoplifting was $150, this was graded as a disorderly persons offense (misdemeanor). However, any shoplifting charge over $200 will be graded as an indictable (felony) level charge and will be handled in the Superior Court in the county in which you are charged (for Millburn, that would be Essex County).
Our client was previously arrested for shoplifting and she was currently enrolled in the conditional dismissal program out of Madison Municipal Court. So, based on this new charge, if she was convicted she would be violated from the conditional dismissal program in Madison and have to face those charges as well. As a result, she could have potentially ended up with two shoplifting convictions on her record and for a young college student that would have been devastating for her life and her future.
Most shoplifting offenses are governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:20-11(b)(1) which provides in pertinent part:
b. Shoplifting. Shoplifting shall consist of any one or more of the following acts:
(1) For any person purposely to take possession of, carry away, transfer or cause to be carried away or transferred, any merchandise displayed, held, stored or offered for sale by any store or other retail mercantile establishment with the intention of depriving the merchant of the possession, use or benefit of such merchandise or converting the same to the use of such person without paying to the merchant the full retail value thereof.
In this case, Mr. Tormey requested the police reports and evidence associated with the case. This is known as the “discovery package”. He also requested any video evidence that exists and would be utilized to prosecute the charge. Although we were eventually provided with the reports from the store, we were not provided with the CCTV video footage that was specifically referenced in the reports. After several requests and the Sephora store representative failing to appear in court or provide the requested video evidence, Mr. Tormey made a motion to dismiss the charges. Because the case was months old and the store failed to appear in court or provide the requested video evidence, the Judge dismissed the charges against our client.
Because the case was dismissed, our client is eligible to apply for an immediate expungement to have the arrest removed from her record. Further, because she was not convicted of this charge, she should not be violated out of the conditional dismissal program in Madison and, if she successfully finishes her probation there, that charge will be dismissed as well.
Short Hills Mall Shoplifting Defense Lawyers – Fight Your Case Now
As you can see, our attorneys have vast experience defending against shoplifting charges, specifically those charges arising at the Short Hills Mall in Essex County NJ. If you or a loved one is facing a shoplifting offense in the Millburn Court, contact our offices now for immediate assistance at 201-556-1570. The initial consultation is always provided free of charge.