Another question on law.. (Iowa in specific but I would like to hear others as well)?

I asked a similar question to this but I felt that I was not specific enough in my question..

A 17 year old boy is charged with Aggravated Theft in the 3rd Degree. First offense ever, he was fired from his job for it but he already has a new job lined up. What happened was he tried returning stuff that was not his for some money, which came out to $960 I believe. They gave him a $500 gift card for it, which he then walked out of the store with. His explanation was that he was testing something for this store, and was going to report to them what they could improve on (i'm guessing their return policies). In the end he started to panic, and got caught. Security and an officer told him he probably wouldnt get jail time but instead a slap on the wrist..

What i want to know is: -can they try him as an adult? he turned 17 this year in feb.
-can he be sent to jail for this?
-what other types of punishments can they give him?

although this is iowa specific i'd like to hear from others...


Answer:
Iowa's sentencing scheme is generally VERY 'indeterminate', in other words, there's LOTS of discretion vested with the judge (and, if there's a felony conviction, with the parole board as to when the guy gets out). If the judge sentences to less than a year, he can pretty much just choose an amount of time; if he sentences to more than a year, then it will likely be a 'range' of punishment and the parole board determines when he's released.
There are also different forms of punishment. For such a small amount stolen and considering the lack of criminal history, he may get a 'suspended' sentence... which means that a sentence is announced but not imposed and will be cleared if your friend doesn't get in trouble for a certain amount of time. I know that in many states suspended sentences for petty crimes is the rule, rather than the exception. I don't know how they're used in Iowa.
(This is in contrast to many other states in this country where there's 'sentencing guideleines' that limit judges' discretion)
This will also depend upon the prosecutor--as I think there is a good deal of plea bargaining done in Iowa. Since it's his first offense, he may bargain down to some misdemeanor, pay a fine (probably) maybe have to do some community service, pay restitution, and it's over and done with.

This all assumes he's charged as an adult. I don't know what the juvenile/adult schemes are in Iowa. I believe that there is discretion with the prosecutor to charge as an adult when the crime was committed by an older teen, but that may not be the case here. Also, the kid appears to have learned his lesson.

I guess all I can say is that he COULD go to jail for a short time, but he may get a fine, community service, restitution, probation, and a few other conditions. The juvenile system is very different, too. In other words, ask an attorney who practices in Iowa this question. You're likely to get a better answer from her!
1) It is not a question of if. He will be tried as an adult. In most states anyone over 16 will be tried as an adult, some times as young as 14.

2) Well his story doesn't make all that much sense. But if the police officer says he will get a slap on the wrist that's likely all that will happen.

3) The slap on the wrist will most likely be community service for a set number of hours. That and or a fine. He may get some kind of probation where he will have to report to someone make sure he is not doing anything wrong.

It is very rare for non-violent first offenders to get sent to jail.