Shoplifting Case at Sears in Michigan

My story is a little similar to this: http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12667
I am a college student who went shopping at Sears and was caught switching prices on a pair of earrings (from $35.99 to $19.99), after I had already paid and left the store. Two women approached me and took me to the back of the store and told me what they had caught on tape. They made me pay the price in full then collected the information from my driver's license (from another state)--thankfully I was not prosecuted and the police did not come. I signed a paper saying that I was guilty, then was told that I would be getting a letter in the mail demanding a $150 fine be paid (equivalent to 10x the price difference), and that after this fine has been received it will be as if nothing had ever happened at all, except that I will not be allowed to enter a Sears. I was fully compliant. How fast do these letters arrive and how long will it take for this process to be settled? I worried because some others in Michigan who shoplifted were not at first prosecuted, then all of a sudden received a court order--I am also worried of the possibility of having been wrongly informed. Additionally, will I have a criminal record? I have never gotten in trouble with the law before nor done anything so stupid. I am very remorseful for this act and am paranoid right now, as I will be applying for law school next year, and cannot even believe I had perpetrated a crime.

The can take a few days to a few months depending on the Law Firm or Civil Recovery Service.

One thing I forgot to add...I explained it to the associates that I should have given more attention to the prices on the cards & this wasn't intentional, they argued back & said that if I made any further claims that I did not intend to do it, they'd call for the police and a court order. I thus admitted that I had intended to do this act, figuring that paying $150 isn't as bad as going to court or paying for a lawyer. Taking into account that I did sign the paper admitting my guilt (should have read it further) and my intentions, I now realize that I have been forced into self-incrimination...at this point is it worth the $1000 or so to hire an attorney after all?

Your intent cannot be proved but your actions can. Do you want to pay a Lawyer and fines along with criminal record go right ahead

Wait, are you implying that I will have a criminal record even after paying the $150 to the law firm or civil recovery service? Or will it only be a civil demand (or order?...I forget...)?

I am implying that if you fight Civil Demand Sears "could" exercise their option to prosecute. You wont win either the CD case or criminal if they press charges. Pay the $150.00 and be grateful Police were not involved

Thanks for your fast responses and explanations...they did write "not persecuted" on the papers...hopefully they will not decide to call upon law enforcement retroactively.

They have nothing to gain by filing criminal charges. Just pay the Civil Demand and let it go away

They won't file criminal charges against you. You will most likely receive a civil demand from the outside law agency. Did they give you a paper with the contact information on it? If not, call the store and ask for the Civil Demand contact information. Don't tell them your story, just ask for it.

You will be put into a database (USMA, USIS, whatever) and it will be on record for 7 years from the date of incident - meaning, if a company you are applying to (mainly retail stores) is a subscriber, you can kiss your chances of gaining employment there goodbye.

do government agencies use the same databases? if so, then i may want to persue legal action after all....

Legal action? On what grounds? If you want to spend thousands to save less than $200.00 and get no results go for it!