Petite larceny

im 19, a month or so back in a store, was filling up paintball air tanks 4$ worth of air..

both of us get an ice cream cone and pay for it

walk past the front register and a security comes running at us saying we are under arrest for stealing


the store policy is not to call police if under 5$ well they combined the totals.. to 8 called the cops and the cop said you dont add up the two money amounts...



regardless the cops came and gave other friend and i petite larceny charges..


how can i fight this 4$ of air, we forgot to pay for, honest mistake....

plead not guilty



i need some advice... how can 4$ ruin whole career and everything...

I would argue that people who PAY for ice cream don't steal four dollar tanks. That's foolish.

I would talk to the PD and hire a lawyer if you must. You are correct---four dollars can ruin your life in this instance.

One other thing---many stores have a policy that states you must actually EXIT the store and be outside the store and/or even a certain distance from the front door before they can charge you with stealing.

I would check into that.

I have seen people put things in their pocketbooks but security cannot stop them because they can say they were just holding the things until they got to a register to check out. In other words, there merely putting something in their pocket does not establish probable cause a theft was going to occur in every situation.

Check the specific definition of this charge in your jurisdiction....Generally the intent to defraud must be present in order for this type of charge to prevail.

it was actually outside of the store. the registers are right next to the doors

as shown on cameras we walked out stopped and turned to go back and pay, then security said its too late


the claim is stealing AIR not the tank, but the AIR inside of it...


the city court says i can call a # which is the city attorney to try and work out a deal before the court date.. which i dont undertand any of...


other friend is 17 and is apparently getting off of the charge, saying not guilty as honest mistake..

btw what is a PD, would u say an attorney would be the best thing to do to talk about he situation


i could have said guilty and paid the fine, but it will be on my record for life, and what does that limit me to? custodial my whole life?....

seems like this could be one of the worst charges out there..

I would go to the number that was listed---the PD is the public defender---but the city number MAY be to the prosecutors office.........go there and explain to them that you forgot and you feel you can demonstrate that no intent was there to commit a crime by virtue of the fact you PAID for the ice cream.

Ask them to dismiss the charges.

If they do not, what yo are describing is a misdemeanor charge and if convicted, may be eligible to be expunged (removed) from your record. In which state do you live? And it doesn't matter if it is the tank or the air............... but the fact it IS the air makes it more reasonable to assume you simply forgot.

I am not sure if i can physically go to the location of the office where the Number is. the city attorneys office. live in nevada.

there are #'s to talk to lawyers if you have questions regarding personal advice of some sorts..

I am going to talk to my father tonight about this and see what his takes are. Possibly getting a lawyer or PD