Shoplifting Baby Supplies
I was caught shoplifting at walmart this past weekend. I had approx $66 worth of baby supplies, mostly formula for my newborn son. My husband has quit working and spent all the money and i didn't know what else to do. i really have no family. I am now freaking out! the police were called, and i was given a summons. no ticket. I wasn't taken in or anything. I know that i will have a civil suit from Wal Mart and its best to just pay it. I feel so stupid. I have not done anything like this before and I have learned my lesson well. I am currently getting signed up for WIC--they informed me of this while we were in the back at wal-mart, that this is available. I was curious what the liklihood of my going to jail is going to be. ????????
I have a very young son and just me to take care of him. I am scared i could lose him. I will gladly pay any fine and do any community service. I am not going to have a lawyer, I just plan on going and putting myself at the mercy of the court. I will speak on my behalf and tell the judge yes I was wrong, and i feel horrible about it and have gotten some public assistance to help pay for the formula and this will NEVER happen again. I can't sleep and everytime I see my son i worry that I am going ot lose him. The assistant manager at walmart was very nice and told me i will likely get a fine and be on my way, nothing to lose sleep over. IS HE RIGHT? How can I find out about a diversion plan? do i go to court and ask the judge for this? what about first time offenders plan? again to i request this option or do i jsut hope he or she is feeling nice that day? Please help!!!
I have been told honesty is the best policy in a case such as this? does anyone agree or disagree??
also, does anyone know of any other assistance that is available to new moms. I am soon to be a single mom as I am leaving my husband. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you
Re: Shoplifting Baby Supplies
Probably every county in the country has an emergency assistance program for parents, where you can get formula, diapers, and other such items for free based upon your economic need. Please look into that option.
You should consider consulting a lawyer or requesting a court-appointed lawyer. A local criminal defense lawyer should be able to inform you as to what diversion programs or sentencing alternatives are available. At a minimum, before you enter a guilty plea, talk to the prosecutor to see if you can get a better deal.
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what abut the sentencing? do you think it will be jail time??? i am so scared!!!!
Re: Shoplifting Baby Supplies
Probably not, but shoplifting laws and sentencing policy vary by state.
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What state are you in? I may be able to help you with clothing and some other baby items. My son is 3 months old and I'm slowly selling his stuff on ebay but would gladly send it to you for free. Sharon
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I am in Missouri! Any Help would be appreciated. I have asked my husband to please move out and he has and now its just me and the baby. I am really scared. emai me at karate_chick20@hotmail.com and we can maybe set something up. Thanks for that offer. i can't thank you enough! my son is also about 3 months.
I spoke with a lawyer yesterday. I called the court and asked for a public defender. They told me they don't have one so i called a private attorney and asked about that for one because isn't it your constitutional right to an attorney if you can't afford one? anyway, he told me 1. that if they won't appoint me an attorney, its probably not going to be a big deal. 2. when i go represent myself, first tell the judge before i enter a plea, i want a chance to explain my situation. He told me to emphasize what i have done to rectify my situation at home (signing up for WIC, leaving the money spending non working husband etc) How sorry I am. 3. ASK FOR A DEFERMENT OF JUDGEMENT. and then 4. enter my guilty plea, stating that i know what i did was wrong and that i have learned my lesson well and it is not going to be something that happens again.
He told me that the judge will probably see that it was out of need and be willing to work with me. He also said the likelihood of going to jail on a first offense for $66 is so very slim. Does anyone agree with that??
I won't have anyone to watch my son that night, what do you think would happen if i took him to court with me? I can't afford a sitter for any extra time. Can they take him away from me?
thanks for the input!! i appreciate any help from anyone! I am a good mom and i have a fantastic son and we just got screwed from the daddy.....you think you know someone and then you get married...
Re: Shoplifting Baby Supplies
Quote:
Quoting nosibor
He also said the likelihood of going to jail on a first offense for $66 is so very slim. Does anyone agree with that?
I think everyone will agree with that.
Quote:
Quoting nosibor
I won't have anyone to watch my son that night, what do you think would happen if i took him to court with me? I can't afford a sitter for any extra time. Can they take him away from me?
Don't take the child to court. There is a substantial chance that the court will view it as manipulation - there are people who take their kids to court thinking that the judge won't sentence them to jail if there is nobody to take care of their kid. Also, there is no child care in a courtroom. The judge won't be happy with you if you have to usher your kid up to the front of the courtroom with you when you enter your plea.
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Thanks aaron! Thats what I needed to know! I guess I will just have to find something to work out. I really appreciate all of your help. I can't imagine losing my son. I would do ANYTHING for that not to happen!
Re: Shoplifting Baby Supplies
I agree with not taking your child to court with you. You should check with local churches as they sometimes have daycare for you and they'd work with you if you didn't have the money. You did good in contacting a lawyer to find out what to do. You need to also get into Family Court for your divorce. You can get a court appointed attorney for that also. You need to call you Family Court to find out how to go about doing that so you can file for Temporary Relief (or whatever it's called in your state). This will at least get you some child support coming in to help and set temporary custody. It's important that you do this too.
I just sent an email to Missouri's Childrens Advocate to get information for you on help with food, clothing, etc. Hopefully I hear back soon and I'll pass it on to you.
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Thank you so much Sharon. I can't say that I am proud of what I did, who would be, but on one hand I am almost glad that I got caught. It has given me the final push that I needed to leave my husband. I will contact my church and see if i can leave him while I am at court. I just hope and pray they don't put me in jail because then his father would get him and he does not take care of him when i am there, let alone when he is alone with him. This is a new start to my life and I hope that the judge can see that and be willing to work with me.
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Re: Shoplifting Baby Supplies
Oh, I almost forgot. Also check with the Salavation Army and YWCA to see if they can watch your child. If they can not, they lead you to someone who can.
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I am still freaking out. I cant afford the lawyer, so i have been working on what i am going to say to a judge on my own, i think i am going to be ok i just am really afraid of the jail time part of this!!! i have been so scared that i am going to go to jail for the last week and a half that i can't hardly eat or sleep or do anything!