Caught with a Shoplifter

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Calfornia
Me and husband went shopping to our local Walmart. First stop wa at the health department, got some Tylenol and some vitamins for my kids. Next Igot some pads. I then went to go see some nail polishes with my oldest son with me, my husband stayed with my youngest and the cart. Unbeknownst to me he was shoplifting some toothbrushes and the health care products I had gotten, he plae the items in the diaper bag. When I aw done I went looking for him and aske him where the its I had put in the cart went? He responded with "don't worry about it". I was mad and I continued to shop for some groceries.

I paid for what I've gotten and walk out wih my husband and kids. A secret shopper stopped my husband and asked him to hand over the is he saw him take. They took both of us and our kids into a small room. My husband said it was all him and he was he one stealing. The cops were called and questions bothe of us and I was let go and my husband gt a ticket and a court date.

I never stole anything and wasn't charged wih anything that night.
But before we were let go from Walmart the undercover shopper told us that because I was aware that he had stolen some items I was also going to get a settelment offer he said it was 50/50. I was anxious to get out of there and thought to myself okay $150 each I can do that. We each got a settelment offer of $300!!!

Should I even pay mine? I wasn't the one cought shoplifting, I didn't do anything. He already went to court and is I. The processes of getting convicted.

You can choose not to pay. If you do, you will likely be taken to court for the demand letter and could be criminally charged. Did you sign anything at the store?

The level of proof in a civil action is less than a criminal trial. It's only a preponderance of the evidence that matters.
Obviously there's a bit of doubt as to your ignorance of the fact that he had put stuff in the diaper bag. You can roll the dice as to whether Wal*Mart will take you to court or not.

If you don't pay, this is what can happen....

You will get another letter. For a higher amount.

If you don't pay that one, then they can issue another letter (for an even higher amount) or take you to Civil Court.

Civil Court would mean the highest amount PLUS their court costs and attorney fees ($250+/hr). When they win their settlement and you don't pay....it would be reflected on your credit report....