Menlo Park Mall is a very popular shopping destination, featuring stores like Nordstom, H&M, Foot Locker, GAP, Forever 21, Disney Store, BCBGMaxazria, Banana Republic, Apple, Abercrombie & Fitch, J.Crew, Kay Jewelers, Macy’s, Michael Kors, Sephora, Swarovski, Vans, Victoria’s Secret, Vera Bradley, Zales, Zara, and more. With hundreds to thousands of visitors each day, shoplifting arrests at Menlo Park Mall are not uncommon, but they are serious. If you have been arrested for shoplifting at Menlo Park Mall in Edison, New Jersey, it is important to know the potential criminal penalties you are facing and seek the advice of an experienced criminal defense lawyer who can help. Learn more about shoplifting charges below and call us today at (732) 659-9600 to speak with a skilled Edison shoplifting defense attorney about your shoplifting case.
Accused of Shoplifting at Menlo Park Mall
In order to be convicted of shoplifting in Menlo Park Mall or anywhere else in New Jersey, the prosecutor must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you purposely took merchandise of a certain value from a store with the intention of depriving the merchant of that merchandise or taking it as your own without paying full retail value for it. You can also be convicted of shoplifting if the prosecution proves that you purposely altered a label or price tag on merchandise or switched an item’s container with the intention of depriving the merchant of all or part of the value of the merchandise.
What am I Facing if Convicted of Shoplifting in Menlo Mall?
The potential penalties you may face if convicted for shoplifting at Menlo Park Mall include significant fines and even jail time. Your sentence will depend on the value of the merchandise you are found guilty of shoplifting. The New Jersey shoplifting statute (NJSA 2C:20-11) states that you can be charged as a disorderly persons offense or a 4th degree, 3rd degree, or 2nd degree indictable offense for violating this law. The charge will depend on the value of the goods you are accused of stealing from a retailer.
If you are accused of shoplifting goods valued at under $200, you may be charged with a disorderly persons offense and face penalties of up to 6 months in jail and fines of up to $1,000. Shoplifting merchandise valued at $200 or more, but no more than $500, is a fourth degree indictable offense. If convicted, you may face up to $10,000 in fines and a prison sentence of up to 18 months. It is a third degree offense to shoplift merchandise with a value of more than $500 but less than $75,000. A conviction for third degree shoplifting carries potential penalties of 3 to 5 years in jail and fines of up to $15,000. Lastly, the most severely punished degree of shoplifting under NJ law is a second degree crime, which punishes shoplifting merchandise with a value of $75,000 or more. Potential penalties of a second degree shoplifting conviction include up to 5 to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $150,000.
What Court Will My Menlo Park Shoplifting Case Be Handled in?
If you are charged with shoplifting at Menlo Park Mall in Edison, New Jersey, the location of your court proceedings will depend on what level of offense you were charged with. Disorderly persons shoplifting offenses are heard at Edison Township Municipal Court, located at 100 Municipal Blvd. in Edison, NJ. You should receive a notice to appear at the court at a certain date and time. Your case will be heard and decided by a municipal court judge and you will not have a jury trial.
If you are arrested and charged with fourth, third, or second degree shoplifting at Menlo Park Mall, your case will be heard Middlesex County Superior Court, located at 56 Paterson Street in New Brunswick, NJ. As mentioned above, the punishments you face if convicted of a felony offense for shoplifting are extremely severe and may result in lengthy imprisonment.
Charged with Shoplifting at Menlo Park Mall in Edison, NJ
If you or a loved one is facing shoplifting charges after a trip to Menlo Park Mall, it is very important to hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer to represent you. The attorneys at our firm have handled countless shoplifting cases and we will examine the circumstances of your case to determine the best course of action. With local offices in Edison, we are extremely familiar with people and procedures in Edison Township Municipal Court and Middlesex County Superior Court. Contact us now at (732) 659-9600 for immediate assistance or reach us online to set up a free consultation.