Defendant Charged with Shoplifting in Old Bridge Avoids Jail Time
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Shoplifting Charge Old Bridge NJ
Do you need a shoplifting lawyer in Old Bridge in Middlesex County? We can help.
Travis J. Tormey recently represented a client who was charged with shoplifting in Middlesex County, New Jersey. Based on the fact that the defendant had no prior criminal record, Mr. Tormey was able to obtain her admission into the Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI) program. This was crucial in the case because the defendant was not a US citizen; she was a green-card holder. As a result, if she had been convicted of a felony shoplifting offense, she would have been deported from the country. This is because shoplifting is a theft offense, which is considered a crime of moral turpitude. PTI allowed Mr. Tormey’s client to remain in the country because, upon successful completion of probation, the charges against her would be dismissed.
Unfortunately, after about nine months of PTI, the defendant was charged with another shoplifting offense, this time in Old Bridge, NJ. The amount that she was accused of stealing was $450, which constitutes a fourth degree felony that is punishable by up to 18 months in NJ State Prison. Further, if the defendant was convicted in this new shoplifting case, she would be in violation of her PTI program, meaning that the earlier charges would return. If she was convicted of either of these shoplifting chares, she would almost certainly be deported from the United States.
Shoplifting Defense Attorney with Offices in Morristown, New Jersey
The defendant again hired Mr. Tormey to represent her. First, Mr. Tormey was able to have the felony-level charges downgraded to a disorderly persons offense and remanded to Old Bridge Municipal Court. Then, Mr. Tormey was able to convince the administrators of the PTI program, the client’s probation officer, and the prosecutor to not consider his client’s new arrest a PTI violation. Finally, Mr. Tormey negotiated a plea bargain which allowed his client to successfully complete her PTI and avoid any criminal record.
Miraculously, after two felony shoplifting arrests, Mr. Tormey’s client has no criminal record and is not facing deportation from the United States. Needless to say, she was extremely satisfied with this result and promised to never shoplift again. This case was a major victory for the Tormey Law Firm.
