Monroe County, MI Shoplifting/Retail Fraud Lawyer

Shoplifting/Retail Fraud Lawyer for Monroe County

In Monroe County, all misdemeanor shoplifting or retail fraud cases will be handled at various District Courts, and felony cases end up at the 38^th Circuit Court. Shoplifting in Michigan is known as retail fraud. It can be damaging to your person and reputation if you have a charge of retail fraud against you. Luckily, our attorney at The Law Office of Julien J. Poota has 18 years of experience handling these types of cases and will help you. As a fully licensed Michigan law firm, the Law Office of Julian J. Poota, PLLC serves clients throughout Monroe County by protecting their rights when accused of shoplifting or retail fraud.  

Shoplifting and Retail Fraud Cases in Monroe County

Shoplifting and retail fraud are charges that arise when you steal from a store and from switching tags to pay less for an item. These cases are incredibly serious, and you will need a good attorney to help you. Shoplifting charges can affect future employment, and financial options. It may also result in jail time or fines. The Law Office of Julian J. Poota will work hard on your shoplifting case to receive the best possible outcome for you.

Shoplifting and Retail Fraud Degrees and Penalties in Monroe County

A first-degree shoplifting charge occurs when a person does any of the following:

• While the store is open to the public, alters, transfers, removes and replaces, conceals, or in any other way misrepresents the price of an item with the intent to not pay for the item or to pay less than the actual price, when the resulting difference is over $1,000.
• While the store is open to the public, steals an item from the store priced at $1,000 or more.
• With intent to defraud, obtain or attempts to obtain money or store property as a refund or exchange for property that was not paid for and belongs to that store, if the amount of money or price of property to be obtained is $1,000 or more.

First Degree Retail Fraud (felony): Jail time of up to 5 years and a potential fine of either $10,000 or three times the value of the stolen property, whichever is greater.

A second degree Michigan shoplifting charge occurs when the accused has done any of the following:

• While the store is open to the public, alters, transfers, removes and replaces, conceals, or in any other way misrepresents the price of an item with the intent to not pay for the item or to pay less than the actual price, when the resulting difference is between $200 and $1,000
• While the store is open to the public, steals an item from the store priced between $200 and $1,000.
• With intent to defraud, obtains or attempts to obtain money or store property as a refund or exchange for property that was not paid for and belongs to that store, if the amount of money or price of property to be obtained is between $200 and $1,000.

Second Degree Retail Fraud (misdemeanor): Jail time of up to 1 year and a potential fine of either $2,000 or three times the value of the stolen property, whichever is greater.

Retail fraud in the third degree occurs when a person does any of the following:

• While the store is open to the public, alters, transfers, removes and replaces, conceals, or in any other way misrepresents the price of an item with the intent to not pay for the item or to pay less than the actual price, when the resulting difference is less than $200.
• While the store is open to the public, steals an item from the store priced at under $200.
• With intent to defraud, obtains or attempts to obtain money or store property as a refund or exchange for property that was not paid for and belongs to that store, if the amount of money or price of property to be obtained is under $200.

Third Degree Retail Fraud (misdemeanor): Jail time of up to 93 days and a potential fine of either $500 or three times the value of the stolen property, whichever is greater.

Contact us for Monroe County Shoplifting and Retail Fraud Charges

If you or someone you know needs a shoplifting or retail fraud lawyer in Monroe, Michigan, our experienced attorney at The Law Office of Julian J. Poota, PLLC can help you. We offer clients a free initial consultation. To discuss your current legal situation, call us at (888) 399-7979 or contact us online.

Shopping and Retail Fraud Lawyer for the 38^th Circuit Court

The 38^th Circuit Court is located at 106 E First Street Monroe, MI 48161.

The 38^th Circuit Court judges are:

 Honorable William P. Nichols

Honorable Daniel S. White

Honorable Mark S. Braunlich

We can be reached 24/7 at 888-399-7979 for a free consultation regarding your Monroe County shoplifting and retail fraud case. We service the cities of Luna Pier, Milan, Monroe, and Petersburg, Michigan, the villages of Carleton, Dundee, Estral Beach, Maybee, and South Rockwood, as well as the Townships of Ash, Bedford, Berlin, Dundee, Erie, Exeter, Ida, LaSalle, London, Milan, Monroe Charter, Raisinville, Summerfield, and Whiteford.