Do not panic, and do not immediately pay. A civil demand letter is a demand under Rhode Island's civil-recovery statute, not a criminal charge and not a court order. The store is asking for a set amount (often several hundred dollars) as a civil settlement separate from any criminal prosecution. Paying does not make the criminal charge go away, and refusing does not create a new criminal case - at worst, the store can sue you in small claims court. Show the letter to your Rhode Island larceny lawyer before responding. In many cases the letter can be ignored, negotiated down, or coordinated with the criminal resolution for a better overall outcome.
