Shoplifting and retail theft may consist of small amounts of money. However, it is a serious crime treated as larceny by the law and taken seriously by retail stores. If you have been caught shoplifting, you may have been told that you will receive a civil demand letter or you might be surprised...
Fraud involves dishonest and deceptive conduct by a person or a party for the purpose of obtaining an unfair and unlawful gain. The act can constitute both a crime and a civil wrong. Detecting fraud can be difficult and sometimes it is never discovered. While knowing the law and your remedies is...
The term “statutory rape” refers to sexual relations with a minor who is under the legal “age of consent.” An act of force is not necessary, only that the act meets all the elements defined by statute. Under the law, young persons below a certain age are not able to give their consent. As a...
It can be difficult to assert a successful child abuse defense since criminal charges will typically include the testimony of a child. People tend to be more sympathetic towards children and are inclined to protect them first. The accused may face a challenging uphill battle when fighting abuse...
Bribery is the act of giving or receiving something of value which influences the actions of a government or public official, employee or one who has a legal duty. The recipient of the bribe facilitates or smooths the way to a desired outcome by removing existing obstacles and uncertainty. This...
What is the difference between drug trafficking, distribution and possession? Criminal law doesn’t make a tremendous distinction between the first two terms. A drug charge of “trafficking” commonly refers to distribution and sale of a certain quantity of a controlled substance. A “distribution”...
The crime of robbery is a felony offense and is considered much more severe than misdemeanor crimes such as disorderly conduct and public intoxication. Robbery is also defined as larceny or the taking of the property that belongs to another person through the use of force or threat of force...
This article will answer frequent questions about criminal charges for shoplifting, petty theft and retail/return fraud.
What is the difference between shoplifting and fraud?
Shoplifting is the theft of merchandise from a store or retail establishment. Return fraud typically involves either (a)...