First Offender Shoplifting Crime

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Iowa. I'm 17 and my best friend always shoplifted when we were together. I was raised differently and never even considered it until one day we went shopping at JCPenny and for the first time I did it with her. We got caught. Its my first offense, I was given a citation for court but have not yet gone. I was told we'd have a fine and have to pay restitution costs and would hopefully be put on probation so it won't go on my record when I'm 18. I have no criminal past. I have straight A's and I don't want my life ruined by this half hour of selfish stupidity. I took $62 worth of merchandise and my friend took the same amount, the cop said because we worked together it would be added together but on my citation report it only has my amount. I want to know if it is for sure that it won't go onto my permanent record. I was cooperative and have never done anything like this before and never will again.

If you go to court, there will be a record. If you are convicted, *you* will have a record. Your straight A's mean nothing. The courts are clogged with thieving kids who get straight A's...since you are a straight A student, you should have known better.

Your only chance is to go to court, plead Not Guilty and ask for a public defender. You want to take advantage of any diversions, pre-trial interventions or whatever else they have for first time offenders. If you plead Guilty: there is nothing left but to sentence/punish you.

The store will also (probably)send you a Civil Demand: monetary punishment requiring you to pay a certain amount. If you ignore it or blow it off, you will get another for twice the amount. Blow that off: you will get *another* for *twice* that amount again! Pay it as soon as you get it and be done with it. You *might* get away with light punishment that will not show up on standard background checks for employment, etc. Good luck.