I purchased between 25 - 30 pieces of clothing at 3-4 different stores in a short period. I ended up returning six items that I changed my mind on after I tried them on at home. I returned all the items to the one store I believed I purchased them at. I was given an instore credit for some items and some they just credited my VISA. When I went to use my instore credit there was no money on it so I called to inquire - to make a long story short I was referred to the LPO and she told me to call the RCMP who arrested me and charged me with 4 counts of fraud for 4 of my returns. I was dumbfounded as I did not at the time realize why this was happening. After I saw the disclosure I realized when I retagged the tags that were taken off I put them on the wrong items. This was an innocent mistake but the store and the cops did not see it that way.

I have plead not guilty - do you think the court will understand what happened or will they assume I did this with an intent to defraud.

Please help.

Thank you.

Hello Morgan:

If you returned six items of NEW clothing, then it makes your story sound believable. I'm not even sure that the store WAS defrauded. Yes, they took in some merchandise that they didn't sell, and gave a store credit or even refunded the entire purchase price...

But, the store STILL has those items of clothing that they can sell. So they've lost NOTHING.

If they're upset about taking back things that they didn't sell, that's one thing. But to charge you with a crime is another.

The above notwithstanding, you STILL need a good lawyer.

excon

Yes, sadly you believe courts care, sorry nope, they will look at evidence and any statements you may have made without an attorney.

Assume the court wants to put you away and work from that position, don't trust the police, don't trust the DA for sure, and go under the assumption that they judge is out to get you.

Hire the best attorney possible.

Good points

I guess the big question is why you took the tags off in the first place, then put them back on different garments. And why you didn't check the receipts before you returned them

Get a good attorney. But I think there is a lot more to this story than you are saying.