Juvenile Misdemeanor Retail Theft

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Illinois
I am a seventeen yearold girl who was arrested last week for retail theft. I did not transport the items of out the store myself, my friend did. I got arrested with her because the police say that I served as an obvious look out. I was not aware of half of the items she took, but am being charged for $230 worth of stuff that she stole. There is never a point in the video that shows me making direct eye contact/even being in the same isle as her when she is stealing things. I did have a charge for posession of stolen goods when I was fifteen for a $40 wallet. I did 30 hrs of community service, and got it expunged from my record. My mom is going to ask the lawyer to have me plead not guilty. I dont think the judge will see my expunged record from 15 because even the police didn't find it, until I told them and even still they couldnt find the paperwork, and said sometimes courts do things "in house", and they never make it to state files. I want to know if I should plead not guilty, and what possible consequences will be. I wrote apology letters to the store, as well as the officers, and am planning to take an online shoplifting course that the judge will be shown. Will all this help?

"I was not aware of half of the items she took".....so you were aware that she was shoplifting? Because you had knowledge she was taking some items, you are just as guilty.

You do want to plead Not Guilty. Your mom can expect a Civil Demand letter in the mail from either the store or its legal representatives. This will need to be paid. Your mom can expect court costs, fees, fines. Also the fees for your attorney. You can expect more Community Service (oops, mom will have to pay for this, too).

Congrats...you cost your mom a few thousand dollars.

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Quoting PandorasBox

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"I was not aware of half of the items she took".....so you were aware that she was shoplifting? Because you had knowledge she was taking some items, you are just as guilty.

You do want to plead Not Guilty. Your mom can expect a Civil Demand letter in the mail from either the store or its legal representatives. This will need to be paid. Your mom can expect court costs, fees, fines. Also the fees for your attorney. You can expect more Community Service (oops, mom will have to pay for this, too).

Congrats...you cost your mom a few thousand dollars.

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Alright, calm down. First of all I have two part time jobs, and I'm paying for everything, she's not. I don't know why you have to address this with a negative attitude, this was a horrible event that I was caught in the middle of, and I feel worse then you would know. What I was saying is I realized that she was taking a few items, but what could I have done about it? Being in the situation is a lot different when you have time to think about it. I don't understand how I can get charged to the same degree when I was unaware of the items she was taking. I don't know if theres some sort of assist to retail theft charge, but I think this would be more practical.

"I realized that she was taking a few items" = You had knowledge a crime was being committed. It's the same as just driving the getaway car during a bank robbery....in knowing she was stealing "a few items" and being with her, you are an accessory, and still held just as guilty in the eyes of the law, especially as you were with her.

Next time a friend steals, you do this: "I don't want any part of this", tell the first employee you see (or the Greeter at the door), and leave without your friend, do not even wait in the parking lot.

Since your mom has a lawyer for you, just follow the lawyers advice.

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Quoting PandorasBox

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Since your mom has a lawyer for you, just follow the lawyers advice.

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Which, if they knew you were posting this on the internet, would be to STOP! talking about it to anyone anywhere.