Retail Fraud 3rd Degree

Hi I got caught stealing a bottle of vodka from the local Meijer store and I am/was on probation for another misdemeanor when this happened (2 days ago). I obviously got into trouble, I have to pay 10 times the retail price of vodka bottle and because I am underage (18 years old) the cops were informed and I received a ticket noting that I am convicted of Retail Fraud 3rd Degree which is also a misdemeanor. Now, I am willing to pay the fines to Meijer and the district court. What I am wondering is...is there anyway I can stay out of prison? (I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to plead guilty because they caught me walking out of the store and as the cop said it was pre-meditated shoplifting).

Your help will be much appreciated.

Well... You're not going to prison; your real worry is about the County Jail.

Right now you're sending the message to the court, "My life is a mess, I have an alcohol problem, and I'm starting a career as a petty criminal." So you want to be able to send a different message to the court. Consider:

* Enrolling in classes to finish high school or to get your GED.
* Attending AA twice per week, while keeping a verified log of your meeting attendance.
* Get a job - full-time if you are not in school.

And consult a local criminal defense lawyer.

Better yet, get an attorney. Every penny will be worth it in the long run.

I am a full-time college student and do not have a drinking problem. I never drink and this was my very first time ever shoplifting. and believe me it's not gonna happen again! now how can I prove all of this to the judge? And even if I show great remorse for my stupid decision and assure him that it will never happen again do you think that he'll consider keeping me out of the county jail?

Courts hear people say "this was my first time shoplifting," or "this was my first time driving drunk" all the time - and they know that 99% of the time that translates to "This was the first time I got caught." That reality doesn't help the 1% who really are caught their first time.

It's a lot harder to convince a court that you've made a one-time mistake and "it won't happen again" when you're on probation at the time of the offense. Presumably the court heard the "one-time mistake" line the first time around. Unfortunately I don't have any magic answers as to how to convince the court that this time is different.

You may wish to consult a local criminal defense lawyer.

Thanks a lot everyone for your useful help :D. I will consult a criminal defense attorney in my area as soon as possible and I'll update this thread with the outcome of this case. The court date is set to October 4th. The sentencing may be on the same day since I'm pleading guilty.