A DEFENSE attorney has warned Americans they could face jail time for making a mistake in the self-checkout line at popular stores.
John Guidry, who works as a criminal defense attorney in Orlando, Florida posts informative TikTok videos on legal advice.
In his latest series, Guidry discussed how an error in the self-checkout line could lead to a criminal charge.
The attorney pointed out that chain stores like Walmart save money by having fewer cashiers and don't prosecute them for making a mistake scanning items.
Even though Guidry assured viewers the likelihood of facing jail time for a self-checkout error is slim, it is possible to face a petty theft charge for a simple mistake.
Guidry explained, "Even without jail there's some nasty side effects like lots of probation, community service, classes, fines. Worst of all, you got this dark cloud of a criminal history that'll follow you around forever."
Guidry adds that petty theft crimes are beatable because they're tough to prove.
A prosecutor would have to prove there was an intention to steal the item.
The more items a customer buys, the harder it is to prove the missed item wasn't a result of human or machine error.
However, Guidry warns that when there are fewer items it's easier to show the missed scan was intentional.
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The defense attorney explained, "if you bought seven items and you forgot to scan three, you probably got a petty theft right there."
If you do find yourself in this position, Guidry recommends getting a good attorney and not getting too down on yourself for making a mistake.
Many users took to the comments to express their skepticism about the Florida law.
One user commented, "No, they’re not prosecuting you for mistakes. Plus, they’re only filing charges for felony amounts."
To which Guidry replied: "In Central FL where I practice they are still arresting for misdemeanor amounts, jail and everything!"
As Guidry suggests, next time you skip the cashiers, make sure you don't accidentally miss an item in the self-checkout line.
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