Charged through association

Thursday night, I was with a friend in WalMart. Dumb stuff started happening, and we wanted to get something(cough syrup... please, no judgements or criticisms). Well I took him over to the isle, and he wanted to steal it. I said no, as I did not want any trouble. I showed him the stuff, put it back down, and walked around the store. We decided to get it. So I gave him mine and money to buy it... I just did not feel like doing the checking out thing. And in the long run, he ended up stealing one of the same thing. We went outside and cops were already there. Said we were getting complaints of stumbling into people and got public intox. charge... I know that one, so I am not saying against that... but we then got searched, and they found the item on my friend. They took us both back to the room and charged us both with shoplifting. They, the LP guy, said I was guilty because I had touched the box my friend stole. Now it would be on camera that I gave the friend my box and $10 for it. Is there much I can do about this. And what will end up happening in court? The bond for that particular charge was like $238, which I paid... along with the other charge... have not been charged with this before. Would I be facing any jail time, or just fines. From other posts, I am expecting a civil demand letter for 225 or so dollars, that just seems the average on here, although I do not remember things being said about one... just a letter stating I am banned from there. Can anyone provide suggestions, as I am worried. I did not want to steal cause I knew bad shit can come from it, do not want to ever steal, and did not steal... why the hell am I busted. Lousy friends... got to learn who not to associate with anymore. Also am trying to clean my life from drugs and alcohol now, as I spent I long 18 hrs. in lockup, and was scarred of just that. I don't want to go to jail again, and prefferably not be put on any probation type stuff. But I would love that over jail time if that is what it would come down too.

I am assuming that you are an adult, and your comments suggest that you've been convicted of prior offenses (although apparently not of shoplifting - "have not been charged with this before.") Any prior offenses complicate what could happen if you are convicted. A first time shoplifter with a clean record would typically receive probation, a fine, and possibly some form of community service requirement. With a criminal history, or with the new charge arising when the offender is on probation, and the judge may well consider jail time. A local criminal defense lawyer, familiar with your record and local sentencing practices, may be able to give you a pretty good estimate.

I am not a legal expert, however I work loss prevention, so i have experience in the matter. I do not believe that the loss prevention agent had the right to charge you with shoplifting. In order to charge you with shoplifting, he would have to prove that you picked out the item with the intention of him stealing (for example: he saw you pick up the item and watch your friend slip it into his pocket). However, he cannot prove that you knew your friend had the intention of stealing the item when you handed it to him. Sounds to me that you have been wrongfully accused I would suggest getting a lawer. I have actually heard of multiple casses of people being wrongfully accused at wal-mart, this may help your case.