I got aressted for shoplifting when i was 17 so what should i do about my record..i turned 18 a week after that

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1. Licensed in SC

   

   James MostellerPro

   Aiken Family Law Attorney

   Contributor Level 13

   

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   Answered July 05, 2010 11:51. at seventeen, south carolina treats criminal offenders as if they were adults, so your age has little to do with it, although you qualify for a youthful offender status.
   
   As to the misdemeanor issue, the value of the items taken determine whether it is a misdemeanor or felony. If the value is less than $1000.00 it is a misdemeanor. If greater then a felony. Key is to attack the value. obtain the store's purchase records of the item if it is close to a thousand and argue their wholesale acquisition cost versus their retail mark-up.
   
   Also, this is the type of case that will frequently be remanded to magistrates court as a misdemeanor just to give a kid a break and clear up the court docket. You need a lawyer to negotiate this for you, or give you a good trial defense if deal-making does not work.

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