You spent a day at the American Dream Mall with family, friends, or just exploring on your own. Store security stopped you, called State Police, and suddenly you’re facing a shoplifting charge with real stakes. When you meet with a New Jersey shoplifting charge defense lawyer, we’ll lay out what the State must prove, how the venue’s security systems shape the evidence, and which courts will hear your case.
In a first consultation with a New Jersey shoplifting charge defense attorney with The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, we’ll explain why cases from this mega-venue often produce evidence that can help your case. You’ll leave with a plan that can help you move on with your life and help you put this unfortunate chapter behind you.
How American Dream Cases Start and Where They Go
American Dream sits inside the Meadowlands Sports Complex, where New Jersey State Police provide primary law enforcement services. After a stop, evidence typically includes merchant video, trooper reports, and any body-worn camera footage that captured the detention. A New Jersey shoplifting charge defense lawyer will request every file and push for fast disclosure to gather as much proof as possible on your behalf.
The court will depend on the value of the property you’re alleged to have stolen. Lower-value matters are heard in a local municipal court; indictable charges are heard in the Bergen County Superior Court, Criminal Division. If this is your first indictable case charge, we’ll pursue Pretrial Intervention (PTI). Lower-level charges could be eligible for Conditional Dismissal. A New Jersey shoplifting charge defense attorney will walk you through these Judiciary programs and what completion can mean for your case and future.
Potential Defense Strategies
Your New Jersey shoplifting charge defense lawyer will review multi-angle video, synchronize timestamps with register logs, and compare SKU numbers to the exact inventory listed in the report. We will force prosecutors to prove every element of the charge against you. Our team will not let a hurried scan of security camera footage turn into a conviction.
We’ll also demand proof of full retail value for the item you’ve allegedly shoplifted on the exact date of your arrest, not a later price pulled from an online listing. Where proof is thin and your history is clean, a New Jersey shoplifting charge defense attorney will push hard for diversion with conditions you can meet, then revisit expungement timing once the case ends.
Merchants sometimes pursue civil cases against shoplifters under a separate statute. We’ll keep those from distracting from the criminal strategy, maintain focus on restitution issues tied to the case, and continue building a record that supports dismissal or downgrade of your charges.
When a Weapons Allegation Is Added
Occasionally, a stop at American Dream uncovers a firearm or prohibited device unrelated to shoplifting allegations. If this happened in your case, the stakes will be even higher. The reason is that an unlawful possession can bring the Graves Act into play. This sets mandatory minimum prison terms for certain firearms offenses. A New Jersey shoplifting charge defense lawyer will separate the shoplifting count from the weapons file, analyze the stop and any search, and evaluate options under statewide charging and detention directives.
Shoplifting Defense Attorney Standing By to Help
When you sit down with a New Jersey shoplifting charge defense lawyer with The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, you’ll get a plan that fits your facts. Our team will tell you what evidence we’ll target, which motions make sense, and where diversion or downgrade might apply. If negotiations with prosecutors stall, one of our New Jersey shoplifting charge defense attorneys will be ready to fight for you in court. Use our online form for a free case evaluation so we can tell you more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who makes the arrest response after a shoplifting charge at American Dream Mall?
The New Jersey State Police have primary law enforcement duties at the Meadowlands Sports Complex, including American Dream.
What counts as shoplifting in New Jersey?
Charges include carrying away, concealment, label switching, transferring items, under-ringing, and removing carts, all tied to the intent to deprive.
Can a first accusation be diverted or dismissed?
PTI in Superior Court or Conditional Dismissal in municipal court may apply to eligible first-time defendants.
What are the penalties if I’m convicted again?
A third shoplifting conviction carries a mandatory 90-day jail term, while first and second convictions require community service. If a conviction involves high-value property, that could result in a lengthy prison sentence.
Could I clear my record after the case concludes?
Some outcomes lead to expungement paths, including Clean Slate options through the Judiciary.
