Retail fraud laws

so november 22nd, i believe it was, i got caught stealing from JcPenny's...which was retarded of me, but i did it nonetheless.

they give me a piece of paper, write down my info and take my picture. no cops arresting me or anything. not even mall security. just some security guys in a backroom watching security cameras...

so i go to the Police Station about a week later to get fingerprinted and whatnot. they don't tell me much about what i can and can't do in the meantime.

so the security watching men and cop said that i'd recieve my court notice within 6 months....is that normal??
i haven't even recieved anything from them yet.
i paid off the fine and whatnot rightaway.

oh and another thing, i wasn't aware of this and i wouldn't have done it if i had known, but i tried to go to Toronto for a show...and i was denied access. which was humiliating cos i had to explain to my friends why i had to be driven all the way back home....****in sucked.

but regardless, the cop asked when i was 'arrested.' and i said whatever the date was. but, theoretically, was i really 'arrested'????
i have no idea. i should've asked him but he probably would've taken it as a smartass comment or something...

anyway, i'm kinda nervous about applying for jobs now cos some are requiring background knowledge and shit. and this is all i've done....
so
1. should i be worried since this is the only thing i've done?
2. when should i recieve my court date notice, or do you think i'll even have one at all?

thanks

another question....
how long will this stay on my record for??

Criminal convictions, like diamonds, are forever. The availability of remedies such as expungement / expunction or the sealing of a record vary by jurisdiction.

Where did this occur?

JCPennys
worth about $40 bones

I think Mr. Knowitall meant what state and county .

......why would that matter?

psycho it does matter what state, different laws apply. It sounds like you were booked if you went to the cop shop which will show when you cross the border and they run you. You might want to check with the police to see what is actually on your record then see if a lawyer can help clear it up. I wouldn't think it would take 6 months to send you a court date but they have up to 1 yr to file charges.

Quote:

---

oh and another thing, i wasn't aware of this and i wouldn't have done it if i had known, but i tried to go to Toronto for a show...and i was denied access.

---

What type of show are you talking about? Some concert or something? I'm confused on what your talking about here or how they could get access to your criminal backround check and deny you access.

yea a concert.
well they can do that at the border i guess...

ok thanks for the date estimate...even tho that sucks that i have to stay in state now til i find out a court date if i get one....

and what if i don't have a lawyer?...is that bad?