Here's what happened.... This occurred in NC, where I live. Also, I have a squeaky clean record. I have never even gotten a speeding ticket!
A little history: Over the past year and a half I had been in an abusive marriage. My husband physically abused me frequently. Three months ago my anxiety and depression manifested itself in the form of shoplifting.
Back in February '07 I was caught shoplifting $500.00 worth of merchandise (clothing) from a local department store. I had put some shirts, pants, and other clothing items in my purse. These were pricey items and that is why they totaled to such a large amount. Well, when I walked out the door the security guard stopped me and took me to the little room upfront where he proceeded to remove all of the items from my purse. He asked for my license and filled out an incident form. He called a police officer who wrote a citation and gave me a court date in March. I had to sign two different forms (one being a promise that I would never come back to their store and the other a form saying I agreed to pay the department store damages for shoplifting in their store). I have yet to receive a letter from the department store detailing the sum of the fine. I am not worried about the fine. I can pay the fine. Well, the security guard seemed to feel a little sorry for me because I was crying and very upset when I was caught. He told me I could plead deffered prosecution. This avenue would require me to do community service, go through a treatment program, and pay court costs. I asked him if this would go on my record and he said he could not give me any legal advice. Then he said I should get a lawyer. By opting for deffered prosecution would I be pleading guilty? I read that in NC if you plead guilty to the crime, then you cannot have it expunged from your record. Is this true? My main concern is this: I am currently in graduate school to become a teacher. I am 4 classes away from getting my masters and I am terrified that I will never be hired to teach if I have a criminal record. My only hope is to have this charge expunged from my record. I am seeking legal counsel, but I don't feel hopeful. Based on information I have found, unless I plead not guilty to the crime, I cannot have this crime expunged from my record. I desperately need advice about the process for having this charge expunged from my record. I have worked so diligently to become a teacher and I cannot bear to think that one stupid, horrible mistake that resulted from being abused could alter the course of my life. Thanks to any advice you can give me.