I was caught shoplifting this week at a department store in Toronto, Ontario. My first offense, I'm 21. I'm totally grieft strucken, I cannot even explain to anyone how I feel. So what happened was, they caught me when I left the store, called the cops, but decided not to press charges on me, and only gave me a sheet to sign saying that they will charge me civilly for $300. After researching online about civil demands and recoveries, I noticed that sometimes the company can later charge you criminally. I'm trying to get this all over and done with without my parents finding out for obvious reasons. Can anyone please tell me, if they told me they weren't going to charge me criminally and we settled on civilly and the fine, what are the chances of them decided later on to charge criminally? I have a clean record, my first offense, and totally remorseful.

I did read another post here of someone that said that happened to them. I haven't been able to find the post since.

I would agree to pay them under the condition that they sign a release form along with a receipt stating they will not later charge you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by N0help4u

I did read another post here of someone that said that happened to them. I haven't been able to find the post since.

I would agree to pay them under the condition that they sign a release form along with a receipt stating they will not later charge you.

---

Well, if you find that post, please let me know asap!
Also, is that possible to sign a form stating they won't charge me? Where do I get the release form? But I still don't understand the condition of which they would decide to charge me later when I wasn't charged in the first place.

A release form would say that they agree that by accepting your payment they agree that they will take no further action.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by N0help4u

A release form would say that they agree that by accepting your payment they agree that they will take no further action.

---

REALLY? Where do I get this release form? Is it guaranteed to be in my letter? But what if the civil demand already comes with a letter stating the criminal charges? Then it's too late is it?

If it comes with it then you may be better off just going to court and letting the Judge deal with it. If it goes to court tell the Judge that they are requiring you to pay.
According to the post I can't find the OP said that they paid then they ended up in court. The OP mentioned it after the court determination and they said you should never have paid that.
I think you can just write up a letter stating they received your money and agree that no further action will be taken.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by N0help4u

If it comes with it then you may be better off just going to court and letting the Judge deal with it. If it goes to court tell the Judge that they are requiring you to pay.
According to the post I can't find the OP said that they paid then they ended up in court. The OP mentioned it after the court determination and they said you should never have paid that.
I think you can just write up a letter stating they received your money and agree that no further action will be taken.

---

Sorry, I'm a little confused. When you say, "it comes with it" what do you mean, the release form of the charges? And what's an OP?
I just want to know the chances of this happening. What has a higher possibility, me paying the civil demand or me finding out I'll have criminal charges that WEREN'T given to me it happened?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by reallystupid

But what if the civil demand already comes with a letter stating the criminal charges?

---

=if it comes with it
that is what I was referring to.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by N0help4u

=if it comes with it
that is what I was refering to.

---

Thanks for your help. But where do I find the release form?

May I ask what happened? Now that's its been a few months.. did they criminally charge you?