2001 Theft - Probation Discharge
At 20 years of age in 2001, I was arrested for theft >$50 < $500 - which is a class B misdemeanor in Texas. I have ran a criminal background check (which I paid for) and the beginning court disposition reads convicted, pleading reads unreported / unknown, and the ending court disposition reads probation discharged. I did a public records search for the county in which I went to court, and their records display DSCH (which I am assuming stands for discharged) on the same case. I understand that I may not file for expungement, as the crime is a class B misdemeanor. In filing a non disclosure, which I have been recommended to do so, the courts tell me this is not something I can do myself. That I have to pay a lawyer for the form, and it costs $250.00 to file the papers in the courts. Is this true?
Also, on the free public records search, there is a 1999 case, same charge as above, when I was 18 years old. This case does not show up on the criminal background check I paid for...and on the public records, the disposition reads NFOG - No Finding of Guilt.I thought in both of my cases, I received deferred adjudication, but that is not referenced on either case. Is this why the 1999 case of NFOG is not on my criminal background check that I have paid for?
I have since cleaned up my life and changed my friends. I have graduated college and am in the accounting field. I now have a job where thankfully they did not run a background check, but have had several job offers being denied because of my criminal history. Any suggestions? PLEASE!
Re: 2001 Theft - Probation Discharge
You can file for nondisclosure yourself; you would just need to be able to figure out how to do so. The clerk's office won't provide legal advice, so if you seemed unlikely to be able to do this yourself I am not surprised that they would suggest hiring a lawyer. I haven't looked up the filing fee, but the clerk's office should know what that fee is.