Hi,
I am a 23 year old Pennsylvania resident, recently graduated college and am currently looking for a job. About 2 years ago I was caught shoplifting in a Target. This was my first and only offense. I was stopped by an employee, taken into a security room and then the police came. The cost of the item I took was $38. When the policeman came he told me I should just plead guily and after a few months the charges would go away. I believed him naively and pled guilty. He gave me a non-traffic citation/summons and I was allowed to leave. A few days after I recieved a letter from Target demanding I pay a fine. I payed it. Then I had to go to the Police Dept. to be fingerprinted. I did that also and that was that. I never went to court because I was never asked to. Now I am looking for a job and am worried that this might harm my chances of getting one. I am aware that in order to get this off my record I must get a Governor's Pardon and then an Expungement. I am currently waiting to recieve a criminal history check, which is required in the pardon application. Here are my questions:
1) How long is the process of getting a pardon and expungement?
2) What are the chances I get a pardon, since this is a lesser misdemeanor and my only one?
3) Will employers not hire me because of this? I am not seeking a job in the criminal justice, law or education fields (I would imagine they would be tougher).
4) Basically, do you think its worth it or can I get a job without going through all this?
I am very regretful for having done this. It was a stupid and juvenille thing to do, and just plain not worth it. I learned my lesson and am just hoping I can move forward and put this behind me. Thanks for any help you can give me.

