Can I be charged with shoplifting in Utah for something my
friend stole?
If you are in a store with a friend, and your friend steals something,
you run a real risk of being charged with retail theft (shoplifting).
Depending on the circumstances, under Utah law retail theft
can be filed as a minor
misdemeanor
or a
felony
charge carrying potential prison time.
In Utah prosecutions for
retail
theft, there are several ways that a person can be charged
with a crime for something that someone else actually stole.
Utah law contains a provision under which you may be
prosecuted for the conduct of another person if you acted intending to
help, encourage, request, or otherwise assist another person in
committing a crime. Under Utah law, this kind of criminal
responsibility is sometimes called "party" liability or "accomplice"
liability.
For example, if police were convinced that you helped a friend conceal
merchandise so that your friend could steal it, you could be charged
with shoplifting. If police believed that you were acting as
a lookout so that a friend could sneak merchandise out of the store
undetected, you could be charged with shoplifting.
If you are charged under Utah's accomplice liability (party liability)
statute, you can be charged with exactly the same crime and level of
offense that the principle actor is charged with. Of course,
just being charged with a crime does not mean that you are guilty.
Utah's accomplice liability statute requires that the
prosecution prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you acted with the
intention of somehow assisting or contributing to the other person's
criminal conduct. If you are in a store with a friend, and
you are not aware that your friend has stolen anything, then you are
not guilty of a crime.
If you have been charged with a crime in Utah for something that
someone else did, it is important to have an experienced
criminal
defense lawyer on your side.
Salt
Lake City criminal defense lawyer Stephen
Howard has successfully defended clients in cases ranging
from homicide to shoplifting, and virtually everything in between.
His
track record
speaks for itself.
Contact us today to
schedule an initial consultation. See the difference an
experienced attorney can make in your case.

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With decades of combined experience, our criminal defense team attorneys have the knowledge, skill, and determination to help you achieve the results you need. Facing criminal prosecution in Utah can have serious consequences. Choosing the best attorney to defend your case may be one of the most important decisions you will ever make....
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