What charge could Steve face after stealing two shirts valued at $35 from Mervyn's?

The correct charge in this scenario would be misdemeanor shoplifting due to the value of the items stolen. In Arizona, shoplifting is classified as a form of theft, specifically related to the act of taking merchandise from a retail establishment. Given that the total value of the stolen shirts is $70 (two shirts at $35 each), this falls below the threshold that would elevate the crime to a felony.

When the value of the goods stolen does not exceed $1,000, as is the case here, it is categorized as a misdemeanor. Shoplifting typically involves taking items with the intent to deprive the owner of them, fitting Steve's actions perfectly as he took the shirts without paying for them.

Other charges like felony theft would not apply here because the total value of the theft is insufficient to classify the offense at that level. Similarly, burglary involves unlawfully entering a structure with the intent to commit a crime, which does not align with simply taking merchandise from a retail store. Finally, criminal damage pertains to the intentional destruction or vandalism of property, which does not relate to the act of shoplifting in this context. Thus, the most appropriate charge for Steve's actions is misdemeanor shoplifting.