Charged Along With a Friend Who Was Caught Shoplifting

**heebs** · 07-21-2008, 02:55 PM

My question involves criminal law for the state of: iowa
my friend and i were shopping at walmart at about midnight and he wants to buy his mother a dvd for her birthday, before making the purchase we walk by the area where pills and medical supplies are sold, and he decides to pocket a bottle of weight loss pills... i didnt attempt to stop him or tell anyone, we walked out the door together (after purchasing the dvd) and we both emptied our pockets, he confesses, we both are convicted and jailed. my question is am i innnocent? i was also charged with fifth degree theft and fined but i did not steal anything!!! what are my chances if i choose to fight this in court? we are both 18 and my record is completely clean, all i want to know is a guestamate of what the turnout will be if i fight this. thanks to anyone who helps and/or reads.

**seniorjudge** · 07-21-2008, 02:58 PM

How did you get fined if you haven't been to court yet?

**heebs** · 07-21-2008, 03:05 PM

oh i left that out, yes we both went to court and plead guilty... this guy there told me that it was the quickest/easyiest way to get out of there, i fealt guilty since i spent the night in jail and i didnt know what to do so i just plead guilty... now everyone is telling me i shouldnt have.

**expertlaw** · 07-21-2008, 03:30 PM

You had the opportunity to defend yourself against the charges. You chose instead to enter a guilty plea, and confess under oath that you committed the charged shoplifting offense. If you seriously wish to try to have your guilty plea set aside so you can contest the charge, I suggest that you retain a criminal defense lawyer to help you.

**seniorjudge** · 07-21-2008, 03:37 PM

Quoting heebs

oh i left that out, yes we both went to court and plead guilty... this guy there told me that it was the quickest/easyiest way to get out of there, i fealt guilty since i spent the night in jail and i didnt know what to do so i just plead guilty... now everyone is telling me i shouldnt have.

Then the case is over.

**heebs** · 07-21-2008, 04:13 PM

Quoting expertlaw

You had the opportunity to defend yourself against the charges. You chose instead to enter a guilty plea, and confess under oath that you committed the charged shoplifting offense. If you seriously wish to try to have your guilty plea set aside so you can contest the charge, I suggest that you retain a criminal defense lawyer to help you.

i have made the decision to have my guilty plea set aside and retain the charge. My friend and i were in a small room with another convicted laidy (dont know what for) and a tv was in front of us with the court room on it, i was talking into a mike to the judje on the tv and it didnt seem like i had much choice, i also had my friend watching me and for some reason it fealt wrong to plead not guilty right in front of him, id rather have it just be me, this is also why i plead guilty.