Shoplifting Attorney in Eatontown
Eatontown is best known for being home to the Monmouth Mall which sits at the intersection of Route 35 & Route 36 and hosts several large department stores. Although considered outdated by some, this mall is still relatively busy and generates the majority of the shoplifting arrests made by Eatontown police each year in combination with several other large storefronts that line the local highways coming to and from the mall. After a shoplifting arrest, you may have many questions – Should I just plead guilty? Do I need an attorney? Will this result in a criminal record? Will this affect immigration? Am I allowed back in the store? These are all important questions and the answers can often vary depending on the circumstances of your arrest and allegations. An experienced New Jersey shoplifting lawyer can guide you through this often confusing process and answer your questions along the way. At Proetta & Oliver we take shoplifting allegations very seriously and make it a point to fight and challenge the allegations against each of our clients in furtherance of a dismissal or downgrade not resulting in a criminal record. If these options are not available then we look to help our clients who are first time offenders by securing their admittance into the conditional dismissal program which can result in a complete dismissal after a probationary period. However, no matter the circumstances we will always give our clients the choice of several options including a trial if we believe that is in their best interests.
Shoplifting Arrests in Eatontown, New Jersey
Eatontown police typically arrest several dozen defendants each year in Eatontown Borough for shoplifting charges that arise out of Monmouth Mall and the many stores that line highways 35 & 36. These stores include Lowe’s, Home Depot, Dollar General, DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, Toys “R” Us, Michaels, Babies “R” Us, Best Buy, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Nordstrom Rack. If you have been arrested for shoplifting in the borough then there is a good chance that you will have to appear in the Eatontown Municipal Court to defend against your charges. The municipal court handles disorderly persons offense shoplifting charges and other crimes and motor vehicle offenses that are punishable by county jail. For more serious shoplifting cases involving over $200 in merchandise, the cases will normally be charged as an indictable crime, or felony, and sent to the Monmouth County Superior Courthouse to be screen and prosecuted by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office. However, in most situations the cases can later be downgraded or remanded to the municipal court unless there are aggravating factors such as several thousand in stolen merchandise, multiple prior shoplifting offenses, or force used against the security guard resulting in the shoplifting being escalated to a robbery charge. To learn more about the route your shoplifting charges may take from start to finish, contact our office today and speak with an Eatontown shoplifting lawyer who can answer your questions and address your concerns.