Caught shoplifting in SC, first offense, misdemeanor, am fined $1,096.50, will this be the fine and how long on my record?
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Caught shoplifting in SC, first offense, misdemeanor, am fined $1,096.50, will this be the fine and how long on my record?
Asked on July 3, 2009 under Criminal Law, North Carolina
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 14 years ago | Contributor
Pursuant to South Carolina a law, a person who is convicted of shoplifting is guilty of a:
(1) misdemeanor triable in magistrate's court and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days if the value of the shoplifted merchandise is one thousand dollars or less;
(2) felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than five years, or both, if the value of the shoplifted merchandise is more than one thousand dollars but less than five thousand dollars...
If you stole $1096.00 technicality you could have been charged with a felony, but you indicate that the charge is a misdemeanor - the authorities gave you a huge a break there.
As for how long it remains on your record - forever. That is unless your case qualifies for "expungement", that is a legal clearing of you record. Based on your facts, I'm not so sure that it does so qualify. Here's a link explaining the statute that governs all of this:
http://lawdigest.uslegal.com/expungement-of-criminal-records/general/6549/
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