When a store owner accuses you of taking their property without purchasing it, you may hope this minor misunderstanding or mistake will be forgotten once you exit the premises. However, they may escalate the situation by getting law enforcement involved, and before you know it, you may be hearing the term “shoplifting” used against you. You must understand that this seemingly inconsequential incident may manifest intense criminal implications. Without further ado, please continue reading to learn whether you will be sentenced to jail time after your shoplifting incident and how one of the experienced Prince George’s County theft crime lawyers at Miller Berman, LLC, can work fiercely to preserve your clean criminal history.
Is shoplifting typically considered a form of petty theft?
First of all, shoplifting is a type of theft that is thereby defined under the state of Maryland’s general theft statute. That said, it is considered an individual’s knowing and willful act of taking, concealing, or exercising unauthorized control over merchandise from a store. Most importantly, this legal definition includes the driving factor that the individual intended to deprive the owner of the property.
Further, shoplifting may be considered a form of petty theft, but not always. This is because, as it is for all 50 U.S. states and under federal law, the severity of a theft offense is primarily based on the monetary value of the stolen property. So, you may be accused of petty theft if you shoplifted $100 or less of merchandise from a retail store. Otherwise, you may find yourself up against misdemeanor or felony charges.
Is it possible to go to jail after shoplifting in Maryland?
Even if you are charged with petty theft over your shoplifting incident, you may be facing up to 90 days of jail time. This is in addition to a fine of up to $500 and other affiliated criminal consequences. So you can only imagine that your potential jail time, or sentence to a state prison, will be extended if you are found guilty of misdemeanor or felony theft. You may anticipate the following sequence of sentences:
- For misdemeanor shoplifting of stolen property between $100 and $1,500: jail time of up to six months and a fine of up to $500.
- For felony shoplifting of stolen property between $1,500 and $25,000: prison time of up to five years and a fine of up to $10,000.
- For felony shoplifting of stolen property between $25,000 and $100,000: prison time of up to 10 years and a fine of up to $15,000.
- For felony shoplifting of stolen property of $100,000 or more: prison time of up to 20 years and a fine of up to $25,000.
What factors can extend my jail time for shoplifting in Maryland?
There is a possibility of prolonged jail or prison time if this is your second or subsequent shoplifting offense. And while shoplifting is typically charged as theft in the state of Maryland, it can be elevated to robbery. This is if, for example, you used physical force against a security guard attempting to stop you from stealing merchandise. Generally speaking, robbery or armed robbery may be associated with 15 or 20 years in jail, respectively.
If you have been placed under arrest for your alleged shoplifting act, it is time to retain legal representation from one of the skilled Prince George’s County criminal lawyers from Miller Berman, LLC. We advise you not to speak with anyone, law enforcement included, about your situation until you hire our services. Please pick up the phone and call us immediately.
