Being accused of a crime can be upsetting to any person, no matter what their background is. It can be frightening and embarrassing to face criminal charges, especially these days when news spreads quickly and widely. Before people can even come to terms with what they are facing, they may see their face and name splashed across a newspaper or website next to a description of what they are accused of. This experience can be very difficult for any person, no matter how seemingly minor the allegations may be.
For example, a 64-year-old widow was recently accused of shoplifting from Loehmann’s, a New York department store. Reports indicate that the woman, who was married to the founder of Avis Rent-A-Car until he died, was charged with stealing a pair of gloves. However, she maintains that the entire traumatic event stemmed from a simple misunderstanding.
The case centers on a shopping trip the woman took back on Sept. 26. After paying for some items, the woman left without paying for a $26 pair of gloves and she was arrested. But like just about every other criminal complaint, there are two sides to this story.
According to a store employee, the woman was seen putting the gloves inside another bag she was carrying. Doing so indicated that she planned to conceal the items and leave the store without paying for them. But the woman maintains that at no time did she intend to conceal or steal the gloves. While she was at a private desk checking out with more than $1,500 of other items, the woman says the salesperson helping her got distracted and simply failed to ring up the gloves.
After all was said and done, the 64-year-old woman accepted a plea deal involving community service in order to have the charges cleared. This may be an option for other people in New York who are in a similar situation.
Charges related to larceny or shoplifting can be very damaging to a person’s career, reputation, and future. Even charges of petty larceny, which was the case here, should be taken very seriously as a conviction could mean jail time and probation. However, with the help of an attorney, a person can work to challenge the charges they face and minimize exposure to punishment.