I m 24 female.Last week I went to BELK. I had lot of thing going in my life right now and so much things I have in my mind.
My final exams coming up plus I am getting married to and also i have some family issue.With all these things in my mind , I went to BELK and I was looking at small wallet ($10).
Mean while I saw other one and I kept that thing in my purse and I don't know why and how?? But it was just happened.
then i left that store and with in few mins I got a call from them that I had stolen stuff from store.
I went inside and return the stuff. Also I told them that it was not my intention to steal that stuff and it was something like that why would i steal stuff of $10 .
I also told them that I am student and I also worked as an optician.
I have also mentioned that i dont have any criminal records and I am from good family. I admit my mistake. But they didnt listen to me.They called police and I repate the same thing.
But they saw me in their video recoring and police also saw that recording in which it is showing that i m putting that stuff in my purse.
I tried to make them understand (police and store) my best.but they make me do some paper work and give me court date.
Today i had a first court date and I went that.
Judge called my name and told me that he will not asked me for Pleading Guilty or not today.So he gave me second date.
He asked me that do you want attorney or not?
But i told him that i cant afford that.Then he asked me to fill out form which has my info and other stuff like i need attorney or not?
He also asked me that what I do and where I worked and stuff?
He also told me that I might go to Jail or might now.
I got a next date after a month. now I have following questions.
Please advice me as I have no idea about this and I am so affraid.
1) Do i say guilty or not guilty in my next date, even i know I am not?
2) If I say guilty will that be close case and I can just go home? Or will it be Jail?
3) If I say guilty then will it be show up in my records?
4) If I say I m not guilty then do I need attorney or public defender or I can do it by my own?
5) If I say not guilty will it be done in that date or it can be done in that date only as I am getting married and I am moving to CA from VA.So I am not sure what to do?
6) If I say not guilty , will i need to pay court charges for their times and what it would be roughly ?
7) IF I say guilty then also I need to pay court charges ?
8) Do i need attorney or Public defender ? and if yes what will be charges ?
Please advise as I dont wanna go jail for my stupid mistake that I havent done by purpose.