Legal Question in Criminal Law in Michigan

Retail Fraud

in december, 2007 i was caught at my place of work(kmart) stealing a little over $1200 in merchandise. i was never arrested and i cooporated and gave everything back that i stole, and am paying restitution of 1457.86.i am almost finished paying it off and i have had no contact from the store or the police except the night i was terminated. it is my first offense and i have a clean record before this. will they still press criminal charges since i am cooperating? im just not sure what is happening since i havent heard anything in almost 8 months. i am starting college in the fall and i wish someone could just tell whats goin on so i dont have to worry about it anymore.


Asked on 7/31/08, 5:03 pm

3 Answers from Attorneys

Re: Retail Fraud

Nobody has a crystal ball to predict what the police might do in the future. However, normally they would have moved forward with charges if they were going to do so. We usually see them moving ahead much more quickly than 8 months.

For more information, go to:

www.AggressiveCriminalDefense.com

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Answered on 7/31/08, 5:21 pm
William Morrison Action Defense Center

Re: Retail Fraud

It's very unlikely that you will be prosecuted. The Kent County prosecutor apparently has no information to seek a warrant.

Do not go around asking anyone if you will be prosecuted. Pay off the restitution and leave it alone.

One of the most valued lifetime skills you can develop is the ability to deal effectively with uncertainty about the future. Worrying about this is useless.

Certitude can be costly.

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Answered on 7/31/08, 5:37 pm
Audra Arndt Audra A. Arndt & Associates, PLLC

Re: Retail Fraud

Before you started paying restitution, you should have had an agreement in writing that they would not pursue criminal charges in exchange for your cooperation and payment. Technically without this agreement, they could still pursue charges, but it is likely that the prosecutor would not pursue it, given the facts you have stated above.

If they do pursue it, please contact me immediately.

And consider yourself very lucky - most stores prosecute all thefts, and then you risk having it on your record forever.

The only way to find out what is going on and determine their intentions is to contact whoever you have been dealing with at Kmart.

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Answered on 8/01/08, 11:28 pm


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