Sometimes, people think that if they have good intentions, it outweighs the letter of the law. This is absolutely not the case, as one woman found out during her Wal-Mart trip. The woman had decided to do a good deed and donate underwear to a local woman’s shelter. Apparently she thought Wal-Mart would be on board, because she filled her purse and grocery bags full of $749.95 worth of underwear – 131 pairs total. Wal-Mart was not understanding of this woman’s mission and she was charged with Shoplifting Theft.
What is Shoplifting Theft in Weld County?
Shoplifting is not it’s own crime. It is covered under the Theft statute. Theft – C.R.S. 18-4-401 – is defined by Colorado law as:
(a) Intends to deprive the other person permanently of the use or benefit of the thing of value;
(b) Knowingly uses, conceals, or abandons the thing of value in such manner as to deprive the other person permanently of its use or benefit;
(c) Uses, conceals, or abandons the thing of value intending that such use, concealment, or abandonment will deprive the other person permanently of its use or benefit;
(d) Demands any consideration to which he or she is not legally entitled as a condition of restoring the thing of value to the other person; or
(e) Knowingly retains the thing of value more than seventy-two hours after the agreed-upon time of return in any lease or hire agreement.
Basically, Theft is taking something of value from someone with the intention of never giving it back. In Weld, Morgan, and Logan County, Theft can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony depending on the value of the item taken.
Have you been charged with Theft? Contact the experienced criminal defense lawyers from the O’Malley Law Office to defend you today!
Have you been charged with Theft? Contact the experienced criminal defense lawyers from the O’Malley Law Office to defend you today!
Petty and Misdemeanor Theft Offenses:
|
Class 1 Petty Offense |
Class 3 Misdemeanor | Class 2 Misdemeanor |
Class 1 Misdemeanor |
|
| Item Value or Price Range | Less than $50 | $50 to $299 | $300 to $749 | $750 to $1,999 |
| Maximum Penalty | *$500 fine*6 months jail | *$750 fine*6 months jail | *$1,000 fine*12 months jail | *$5,000*18 months jail |
Felony Theft Offenses:
| Class 6 Felony | Class 5 Felony | Class 4 Felony | Class 3 Felony | Class 2 Felony | |
| Item Value or Price Range | $2,000 to $4,999 | $5,000 to $19,999 | $20,000 to $99,999 | $100,000 to $999,999 | $1,000,000 or more |
| Maximum Penalty | *$100,000 fine*18 months prison | *$100,000 fine*3 years prison | *$500,000 fine*6 years prison | $750,000 fine*12 years prison | *$1,000,000 fine*24 years prison |
For the woman above, she would be facing a class 2 misdemeanor, as the total value of the items she stole was just under $750. Five cents more would have landed her with a class 1 misdemeanor Theft charge in Greeley, Erie, and Evans. Moral of the story: A good deed only counts if you accomplish it in the right way.
If you or someone you love has been charged with misdemeanor or felony Theft, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the best criminal defense attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-616-6009 to schedule a free consultation today. Together, we can protect your future.
Image Credit: Pixabay – Clker-Free-Vector-Images