Theft at My Old Job

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Birmingham, AL.

Just recently I stole $2000 from the company I no longer work for. I admitted this to my manager but could not give the money back as it was already spent on bills and food. I explained that as soon as I got a job I would repay the amount I stole. I have tried to keep my ex-manager in the loop as the progress of my new job search. I got a call last night that they are seriously thinking of pressing charges. What can I do short of getting on my hands and knees to let this company know how truly sorry I am for this stupidity. I fully intend to pay this amount back but if they press charges then my plans of getting a new job are out the window as no one will hire me with this theft on my record and then how will I pay them back their restitution. Could we possible sit with an attorney to set up some sort of payment plan and have it notorized, go to small claims court. I am in the hunt for a new job and I have several 2nd interviews just this week. What can I do to assure this company that for everyone best interest to take me to small claims court and get a judgement then set up a payment arrangement. I cannot afford to go to jail, and I really honestly dont know what I was thinking when i did this. Please can anyone help me.

It is entirely up to the company. No one here can give you any guarantees as to what will happen. There is no law you can invoke that will force them to allow you to set up a payment plan, force them to handle it in small claims or will prohibit them from pressing charges. The ONLY thing you can do, other than pray, is to hire a lawyer yesterday.

I want to underline cbg's excellent advice.

There is nothing you can do to prevent them from filing a police report and asking the DA to press charges.

Even if you pay the money back, this option is still open to them.

I recommend, strongly, that you beg or borrow the money to pay them back soonest.

And just to make things more interesting:

Depending on what kind of employment you seek in the future, it's possible that a background check will still reveal the civil side of this which could result in a denial of employment.

One more... you do realize, of course, that there is nothing preventing your former employer from referring to your theft as part of a reference call, right?