Hello, my brother got caught shoplifting in a kmart store in nj, No police were involved and he was told that?

[cadby]

Involved, but he was told that he's banned there for 1 year, a week later he got a summon from a lawyer stating that he has to pay $150, for the penalty. My question is that, aside from the civil charge will he be charged as a criminal( if that's the correct term)for stealing?? pls help I really don't know the law in new jersey in regards of shop lifting. Will he be charged as criminal too? Or is the fine of $150 it? Thank you... Btw the price he shop lift was $14

[gilleabart]

If he chooses not to pay the $150 then kmart will call the police and he will receive a criminal charge. Otherwise this will stay a civil issue. The amount that he stole is irrelevant.

[tiernan]

If he pays the fine,he will not be charged. If he doesn't,expect the store to press criminal charges. The fine is in lieu of charges.

[janyd]

Your best help for your brother is to let him take is punishment and learn from his mistake. It may have only been a $14 item but what has it cost K-Mart? The lawyers letter cost them plenty and how about the time for all the other people involved and the extra security they have to have in place to protect themselves from people like your bother. Would you be so concerned about helping him if the $14 item he stole was from you?

If I were you brother I would do whatever I needed to do to make amends with K-Mart and then I would stand up and tell the world that I had made the mistake and implore others not to do the same thing.

[winfrid12]

There are civil demand laws. I suggest you CALL the store manager (or whatever # is on the letter he received from their lawyer) to see what's going on.

btw, just because he doesn't pay their fee doesn't mean he will be charged with a criminal charge.

Lastly, there are many crim attorneys who will give a consultation for FREE. I suggest he do that. Legal advice should come from an expert, not Y!A people like us.