Your fine should be less than $1000.00. If money is a problem request a public defender and then ask him/her to see if you qualify for diversion (if available)
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Your fine should be less than $1000.00. If money is a problem request a public defender and then ask him/her to see if you qualify for diversion (if available)
Yeah, that is what I was planning on doing. The fines aren't really what I'm most worried about. I am most worried about my friend having the sensor remover in her bag. She is the one who used it to take the ink tags off of the clothes. I know that I was with her and witnessed all of this, so I am definitely responisible. However, I don't want her dumb ass to get me in even more trouble because she insists on carrying it around in her purse all the time and is constantly stealing s*** from victoria's secret, abercrombie, nordstrom, etc. I am accepting FULL responsibility for my actions and I know it may sound like I am trying to blame this all on my friend, but she is honestly a SERIAL shoplifter. I have only shoplifted with HER because she assures me that she never gets caught and blah blah blah. If I get an attorney, should I tell him about all of this??
Well, that answers that question - you wanted stuff, didn't want to pay for it, and didn't think you would be caught. Now you know better.
You should tell your lawyer everything. So far, though, you appear likely to be charged only in relation to the incident where you were caught, and your friend's habitual shoplifting may help establish her as the leader / instigator.
And the funny thing is....my friend is blaming the entire thing on ME. Just because I gave the LP officer permission to check my purse after I handed over the merchendise. My friend said that I could have said no and they couldn't have done anything about it. Yeah, she thinks she knows everything. I'm not a lawyer and neither is she so I was 100% honest and cooperative because I didn't want to be taken to jail. After we left the store my friend starts SCREAMING at me saying that now she is going to have to pay for all of her clothes because of ME. Someone shoot me...please.
The Lp may not have had permission to search but they could have requested PD to do so and then you would have been documented as uncooperative!
Exactly. That's why I was cooperative. And now I'm constantly getting bitched at by my "friend" for it...
That works in your favor
Do you think the court will take that into consideration?
That you were coopertive? yes
I agree. When I was caught I had panic attacks for about 3 or so months. I'm not sure if diversion is offerred in your area, but try and see if it's available! This will let you off easier and not leave a mark in your record. About the friend, the friend i was caught with is a chronic shoplifter, but we never really got around to the blame game. I'm sure she'll calm down after a while (that is, if YOU still want to be friends with her.) Not sure if you told the mom or boyfriend, but my mother doesn't know. My dad and I decided to keep it between us. As for the boyfriend, (me being in highschool this sounds silly) I kept it from him. He was probably my best friend at the time and it really came between us because I changed drastically after the incident, and paranoia followed me like a plague. After a couple months I finally told I was caught by the cops but not what for. This in the end destroyed whatever we had so depending on how your boyfriend would react, I say tell him sooner, unless you can hide this as well as I can from my mother. =( good luck