Washtenaw County, MI Shoplifting/Retail Fraud Lawyer

Shoplifting/Retail Fraud Lawyer for Washtenaw County, Michigan

In Washtenaw County, misdemeanor cases are handled at various District Courts and felony cases are elevated to the 22nd Circuit Court. Within Michigan’s legal system, shoplifting is termed as retail fraud. Accusations of retail fraud can significantly damage your personal and professional reputation. Thankfully, our attorney at The Law Office of Julian J. Poota boasts 18 years of experience in handling such cases and is prepared to provide assistance. As a fully licensed Michigan law firm, we extend our representation to clients throughout Washtenaw County, ensuring their rights are safeguarded when facing allegations of shoplifting or retail fraud.

Shoplifting and Retail Fraud Cases in Washtenaw County

Accusations of shoplifting and retail fraud arise from actions such as taking items from a store without paying or altering price tags to reduce merchandise costs. These charges come with substantial repercussions, potentially affecting future employment opportunities and financial stability, and could lead to imprisonment or fines. Having a skilled attorney to navigate these serious allegations is crucial. The Law Office of Julian J. Poota is committed to providing comprehensive representation in your shoplifting case, working tirelessly to attain the best possible outcome.

Shoplifting and Retail Fraud Degrees and Penalties in Washtenaw County, MI

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 Washtenaw County, Michigan Shoplifting and Retail Fraud Charges

If you or someone you know needs a shoplifting or retail fraud lawyer in Washtenaw County, 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.

Shoplifting/Retail Fraud Lawyer for the 22nd Circuit Court

The 22nd Circuit Court is located at 101 E Huron St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

The 22nd Circuit Court judges are:

Honorable Patrick J. Conlin

Honorable Timothy P. connors

Honorable Carol Kuhnke

Honorable Darlene A. O’Brien

Honorable Julia B. Owdziej

Honorable Arianne E. Slay

Honorable Tracy E. Van den Bergh