[zerokazz]

I'm 18 and have held a steady job for 2 years. Unfortunately I got caught up in some gift card fraud with a coworker and was fired and arrested for embezzlement. My parents bailed me out for 4k and a court date was made for December. We talked to a lawyer and they said that they could attempt to get the charges dropped to a misdemeanor. Unfortunately my parents didn't want to pay the possible 10k for the lawyer and decided to just try for a public defender. I made resitution to the company. The day came and when I showed up for my court date my name was not on the list and found out that they hadn't pressed charges yet. The woman at the help desk signed a paper saying we showed up and told us that the da had a year to press charges. This got my hopes up thinking that the charges would be dropped.
Then just this week I received a letter from the court saying that I am being charged with Grand Theft Embezzlement and have to show up in february. Needless to say I am terrified. I'm 18. This is my first offense. I'm paying for college. I just got a new job and my boss thinks I'm good enough to get a promotion. I really don't want to go to jail..
There was a similar case at the same workplace during the same time I was arrested where the employee embezzled 16k and got his charges dropped to a misdemeanor. I only embezzled 2k. So I'm wondering(hoping) that my charges get dropped as well. Is this possible?

On the day of my trial I don't know if I can ask for a public defender before pleading guilty/innocent. And I don't know what I should plead? I am guilty. I wrote a statement and confessed..so I can't really say that I'm innocent. But I'm afraid of saying that I'm guilty because I don't want them to just throw me in prison right away..I really don't want to go to prison..

Can anyone offer me any advice or hope?

[Mr. Knowitall]

You can inquire with the court about the procedure for requesting a court-appointed lawyer. You should do so as soon as you can. Don't plead guilty (or no contest) until you talk to your lawyer.

It is quite possible that you will receive a similar plea bargain to that of the other person; but I can't predict or promise what a prosecutor will do in any given case.