Caught Shoplifting In Oregon, at Rite-Aid

Hello, I was recently caught in Oregon stealing Hydroxycut for the workouts I've just started. I was caught outside the store with a secret shopper and she was asking me to give her the items. I was freaked out so I did what she told me. Her and a security guard guy took me into the employee back room area and filled out some forms with my information and drivers license stuff. I had to sign a paper stating that I wouldn't trespass on any rite aid for the next 2 years. I've been really really worried because she said it was a theft 2 charge because it was over 50 dollars. The price of the pills was about 60 dollars. The police were involved and they came down and took my license information and she wrote me a ticket stating I shoplifted and wrote down my court date. They didnt tell me anything that would happen at court. I really am worried and wanted to know if it would be going onto my record? If it does is there any way I can plea with the judge to get it off my record? (This is the first offense i've ever had) I cant afford a lawyer so I'll be going to court alone. I'm also a student who cant really afford much. If its just a fine will it be a lot of money? I read the sticky and I will most likely follow it to be safe. I just need to know how screwed I am right now because I'm really freaked out.

Thanks

Plead not guilty and request a public defender, then talk to your public defender about trying to get a diversion program. A diversion program will keep it off your record. For the civil demand you will be fined probably 200 - 300, I don't know the law in your area, but thats about normal. Court fines will most likely be significantly more.

I see. What do you mean by court fees? If I get a public defender it will cost me money? What would happen if I pled guilty?

If found guilty or you plead that way there are fines to pay not only that the judg emay order you to pay public defender as well

Well I dont plan to go in with a public defender because I dont have the money for a defender. I'm just going to try to call for a free consult over the phone to see what I should do. I don't mind having to pay fines or anything just as long as I can keep it off the record somehow would be perfect.

Sounds like you want diversion having an Attorney can help you the fee for a PD is very mild in most cases. Example (only an example) if the fee is $100.00 an hour and the PD spends 30 minutes to talk plea deal with DA then you owe 50 bucks! You are much better off with an Attorney than without. Still gt free consult then take tha tinformation with you when you talk to Public defender

Okay. Thanks a ton! Also, if I were to request a public defender will I have to go to court again? or will the public defender just be there and we can handle it there and then? I'm not exactly sure how this all works out.

Talk to your public defender about that however if you enter a plea its very likely judge will wan tyou present to ensure you understand plea

For the record the arrest is already on your record; hate to be the bearer of bad news. What you want to do is leverage the public defender to lessen the sting and get into a diversion program that will teach you the difference between right and wrong.

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Quoting usedbranflakes

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For the record the arrest is already on your record.

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Technically I wasn't arrested. The police lady just came in and said she could arrest me if she wanted to. But she didn't. All she did was write me up a ticket stating that i shoplifted and when my court date is.

When an officer detains you and provides you a court date you have been arrested and will be placed into the court system. When they release you you are realeased on your own recognizance. You might not have been arrested with handcuffs, but even the process of handing you a ticket with a court date means that you will have an arrest record regardless of what happens in court.

When Loss Prevention detained you you were arrested! It was a "citizen's arrest" and is documented as an "arrest" on your record