Advice For Shoplifting Charges in California
I was arrested today and charged with petty theft PC 488. I honestly just had a lot on my mind and mindlessly threw 2 travel packs of baby wipes and one deodorant stick into my purse. I had fully intended on paying for them, I even picked out the ones that were on sale! The total price was $5.81. I had just waited in line and paid for at least $40 in other groceries from the store and was on my way out to the car when I was stopped by security and told there were items in my purse I had not purchased. I quickly remembered the toiletries I had separated from the groceries, appologized and offered to pay for on the spot. I was told I could not and would never be allowed back in the store. They even took my PICTURE!!! I had just gotten $20 cash back and had at least $10 in my pocket! I just honestly forgot to pay for those items!!! I had originally seperated them because I was buying groceries for both myself and my boss however when I grabbed the 3 things for my personal use I just threw them in my purse because they were small, I didn't want them to fall out of the top basket(where a child would sit) and I just really wasn't thinking. I was trying to figure out what I was buying for dinner, if I had everything off my boss's list, what I still needed. It was honestly a huge misunderstanding that has been blown way out of porportion! WHAT DO I DO NOW???? I have no prior arrests, I work, go to school and am a teen mentor! Not only am I embarassed and ashamed, but I have no idea what to do from here...I of course want to plead "Not Guilty", but the security gaurds told me it will just make matters worse and cost me. They have me on camera, because yes, I admit, I was stupid and just threw the items in, but my INTENTION was never to steal and that's not on film!!!!! I am worried about using a public defender, will he/she do their best to help my situation? I just need some advice here. :wallbang:
Re: Advice For Shoplifting Charges in California
Listen this is the same story that EVERY shoplifter uses. I forgot and this and that... YOU TOOK STORE ITEMS AND CONCEALED THEM IN YOUR PURSE!! that alone in most states is THEFT! you did not even have to leave the store in my state. So just own up to what you did and what you did was steal no matter the dollar amount.. That is also a classic excuse.,.. "why would I steal items so cheap". So go to court plead guilty and ask for forgivness and say you are really sorry. But That is just what I would do. Others on the site will tell you to get a lawyer
Re: Advice For Shoplifting Charges in California
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Quoting
calidiva97
I was arrested today and charged with petty theft PC 488. I honestly just had a lot on my mind and mindlessly threw 2 travel packs of baby wipes and one deodorant stick into my purse. I had fully intended on paying for them, I even picked out the ones that were on sale! The total price was $5.81. I had just waited in line and paid for at least $40 in other groceries from the store and was on my way out to the car when I was stopped by security and told there were items in my purse I had not purchased. I quickly remembered the toiletries I had separated from the groceries, appologized and offered to pay for on the spot. I was told I could not and would never be allowed back in the store. They even took my PICTURE!!! I had just gotten $20 cash back and had at least $10 in my pocket! I just honestly forgot to pay for those items!!! I had originally seperated them because I was buying groceries for both myself and my boss however when I grabbed the 3 things for my personal use I just threw them in my purse because they were small, I didn't want them to fall out of the top basket(where a child would sit) and I just really wasn't thinking. I was trying to figure out what I was buying for dinner, if I had everything off my boss's list, what I still needed. It was honestly a huge misunderstanding that has been blown way out of porportion! WHAT DO I DO NOW???? I have no prior arrests, I work, go to school and am a teen mentor! Not only am I embarassed and ashamed, but I have no idea what to do from here...I of course want to plead "Not Guilty", but the security gaurds told me it will just make matters worse and cost me. They have me on camera, because yes, I admit, I was stupid and just threw the items in, but my INTENTION was never to steal and that's not on film!!!!! I am worried about using a public defender, will he/she do their best to help my situation? I just need some advice here. :wallbang:
Truthful or not this reason will not wash in court don't use it! You met the legal requirement for theft. You should seek legal counsel. You cannot prove your intent its a waste of time. The store can prove you stole. discuss diversion with your Attorney as an option
Re: Advice For Shoplifting Charges in California
Get a Lawyer and see about diversion. I would not plead guilty, because that is then on your record forever. Yes, you admit you took the items, mistake or not that is theft. If you were to plead guilty, that would follow you for the rest of your life.
Re: Advice For Shoplifting Charges in California
I have spent my whole adolecent, teenage years trying to do the "right" thing. I am 27 years old and have better things to do with my time than to steal baby wipes and deoderant that were ON SALE!!!!
I feel guilty because I know that I put the stuff in my purse, but in no way was I trying to "conceal" the items. The LP officer said I looked straight at him as I was doing this!?!
I am sure that this is one of the biggest excuses in the text book, but now I am wondering how often is it true?!?! How can I be Guilty already? Doesn't intent count 4 anything? I feel as though the actual facts prove my intent...I had cash on me, I was grocery shopping (I even had a list), I paid for at about $50 dollars in other stuff(I checked my reciept). I was purchasing items for two seperate transactions and had put the items in question aside so 1)they would stay seperate from my boss's stuff (I am personal assistant so I ALWAYS do her shopping) 2)so they wouldn't fall from the "seat" where my purse was sitting. I just feel disgusted. I did what I did. I made a mistake and tried to fix it at the moment it was brought to my attention.
The LP officers were the ones who gave me a hard time, the police officer seemed to be understanding and told me just to go to court. That I had the cash on me so all they could prove right now was that I had items i did not pay for. He even told me that if it were him, he would have apologized profusely and asked to pay for the item. When I told him I tried that, he looked puzzled and asked why I was in handcuffs? I didn't have a good answer for that, but the LP officers said I was being "difficult" and made an attempt to "run" however THAT never happened and they even had cameras where I was being questioned as well as a female store employee to witness.
I don't want to plead Guilty because in all honesty I planned on paying for the items!!! I just feel like this has been blown way out of porportion. Will a public defender represent me as well as private councel? I am completely lost and just feel sick about this whole situation.
Another question...when I was being questioned by LP I was told I could not make any phone calls from my cell phone. Do they have the right to prevent me from calling who I choose?
I feel that the LP people were highly unprofessional. They kept trying to preassure me into saying I "just didn't want to pay for the items" and when I wouldn't change my story that is when they said I was under arrest and they would need to get an officer. To which I replied "fine". They kept telling me I was going to be there all night. Talking about how they don't mind the O.T. Talking about the guy they lost because of me , who was stuffing bottles of alcohol down his pants. Even when the officer told me I was free to go the 2 LP staff were arguing over who should get me my grocery kart from the fridge. Very unprofessional.
Re: Advice For Shoplifting Charges in California
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Quoting
calidiva97
I have spent my whole adolecent, teenage years trying to do the "right" thing. I am 27 years old and have better things to doThat means nothing at this point sorry with my time than to steal baby wipes and deoderant that were ON SALE!!!!As many before and after you have said and will say
I feel guilty because I know that I put the stuff in my purse, but in no way was I trying to "conceal" the items. The LP officer said I looked straight at him as I was doing this!?! Intent cannot be proved
I am sure that this is one of the biggest excuses in the text book,Pretty close but now I am wondering how often is it true?!?!Does it matter? You met the legal requirment for theft How can I be Guilty already? Doesn't intent count 4 anything?In murder yes but not theft I feel as though the actual facts prove my intent...I had cash on me, I was grocery shopping (I even had a list), I paid for at least $50 dollars in other stuff. Many others mor eguilty than you have also i I was purchasing items for two seperate transactions and had put the items in question aside so 1)they would stay seperate from my boss's stuff (I am personal assistant so I ALWAYS do her shopping) 2)so they wouldn't fall from the "seat" where my purse sitting. I just feel disgusted. I did what I did. I made a mistake and tried to fix it at the moment it was brought to my attention.By thgat time it was too late
The LP officers were the ones who gave me a hard time, the police officer seemed to be understanding and told me just to go to court. With a Lawyer I hope That I had the cash on me so all they could prove right now was that I had items i did not pay for.Having cash doe snot prove innocence He even told me that if it were him, he would have apologized profusely and asked to pay for the item.LP have policy they must follow its not up to them to make those decisions When I told him I tried that, he looked puzzled and asked why I was in handcuffs?Depends on what store policy is I didn't have a good answer for that, but the LP officers said I was being "difficult" and made an attempt to "run" however THAT never happened and they even had cameras where I was being questioned as well as a female store employee to witness.It doesnt help with your theft case but might on another issue
I don't want to plead Guilty because in all honesty I planned on paying for the items!!!If you fight charge and are still found guilty your sentence could be worse I just feel like this has been blown way out of porportion.It hasnt Will a public defender represent me as well as private councel?You can't have both I am completely lost and just feel sick about this whole situation.
Another question...when I was being questioned by LP I was told I could not make any phone calls from my cell phone. Do they have the right to prevent me from calling who I choose? They can do that
I feel that the LP people were highly unprofessional.Why? They kept trying to preassure me into saying I "just didn't want to pay for the items" and when I wouldn't change my story that is when they said I was under arrest and they would need to get an officer. To which I replied "fine".If you had done as they asked they might not have pressed charges you blew it there They kept telling me I was going to be there all night. Talking about how they don't mind the O.T. Talking about the guy they lost because of me , who was stuffing bottles of alcohol down his pants. Even when the officer told me I was free to go the 2 LP staff were arguing over who should get me my grocery kart from the fridge. Very unprofessional.
Maybe maybe not your actions may have been inprope rin their view without they side its hard to say
Re: Advice For Shoplifting Charges in California
Yes, they told me if I had admitted that I was stealing from the store they would cut me slack, but since I knew that was inaccurate I refused to do so. What I did was incredibily stupid and many may think of me in the same light but I am far from a liar or a thief! I just want this all to go away!!!
When I asked if a court appointed attorney would defend me as well as private councel I meant as GOOD as a hired attorney.
Now once I go to court and plead not guilty, what happens from there?
Re: Advice For Shoplifting Charges in California
You request a Public Defender and a court date or pretrial date is set
Re: Advice For Shoplifting Charges in California
Is there anything I can do to get me out of this mess without pleading guilty?
Re: Advice For Shoplifting Charges in California
Ok let me understand this you want to steal get caught but suffer no punishment?:wallbang: Thats not going to happen