Nurse caught shoplifting at Hastings

Help. I need your advice. I had an incident the day before Christmas! I am a nurse here in New Mexico, and was recently stopped by Hastings Security for shoplifting. There were two items (videos) totalling about $40. The LP officer stopped me as I was leaving the store and said he heard some noise like plastic boxes opening, and asked me what I was doing. I told him that I was looking in the video game rental boxes to see if they had the game booklets. Just then there were two cops that happened to be looking around at videos in the store. They came up to the LP officer and asked if there was a problem. The LP told the cops he thought I took something, and asked me where I put empty boxes at because he heard noises. I had two movies in my purse. I offered my purse to him and told him that I had two videos that were mine. The police officers asked for my Drivers License, and checked to see that I had no warrents, then they said that if I didn't admit to taking the videos that they would arrest me, and that if I admited to it, I would only get a misdemeanor citation. I wasn't sure what a citation was, but anything sounded better that going to jail, so I said Ok fine I took the videos. I was issued a citation, I have to go to court to plea next week. I feel horrible, I think I took them because I had spent so much money there for Christmas already. (I have a 5 year old) The problem is, if I get a criminal record I could loose my job, and I am a single parent.(I know I should have thought about that!!) I was wondering if I could get this case thrown out since there was no video of me taking anything, and the LP did not directly witness me taking anything, since he didn't even know what I had. I would love to get this case thrown out, then go to some sort of counceling to figure out the deep reason why I did something so stupid. What do you think my chances are? I am so scared, I havent been able to eat or sleep much thinking about what the inside of a cold jail
cell must be like. PLEASE PLEASE Help. Thank you so much. Sorry this is so long, but I thought this was rather complicated. :( :( :( :(

You can forget about the cold jail cell, it won't happen for a minor theft. You're in a strange position with the actual theft, unless there is an eye witness it may not fly. You need to talk to a lawyer in your area, particularly if the cops held 'jail' over your head. With a petty theft the LP has to be sure not just go on a sound, I think he missed something and went on a hunch. The more I think about it, you need to seek legal advice, somethings just not right.

Thanks for the input, I need all the advice I can get. The thing is, I don't want to have a criminal record..not even for a misdemeanor. I could easily loose my job, plus I'm in PA school too. So that is why I was wondering if they would need a video to convict me. I'm still unsure about that part, if anyone knows anything about that, please let me know. Also what about being read rights before the cops questioned me, or scared me into the admission? Were they suppossed to read the rights, or does it matter? Also, does the fact that I said 'I took the things' to avoid them taking me to jail mean that the court will find me guilty? One last thing, I was thinking of applying for a public defender, but some people say they are terrible. Is that true?
Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

...see previous post.. thanks.

Why oh Why do I do this?? I did well in school, I've never done drugs, No other addictions, so why shoplifting? Why me? I don't know why, but for some reason if I want something that I think would look cute on me, I will just take it...Only from stores, never took anything from anyone I know..I don't take things constantly, so I don't think I'm a cleptomaniac, but I'm finding it hard to stop.
Funniest thing is, I think God was throwing a rock at me, because of all things, I get caught with a stupid video by an older LP (maybe 60's). I don't think I fit the 'stereo type' of a usual shoplifter. (I have blond hair, medium build, always dress nice and probaly look innocent. If I would have been caught at a clothing store, it could have been a felony, since the clothing stores I shop at are expensive.
I haven't taken anything again, I don't want to, but I'm finding it hard not to. I never thought of myself as having an addiction, but this is. I feel helpless. I did find a councelor, but still.
So question is: what are some things that I could do to stop the urge? I feel like I'm some sort of crazy person, the kind I see at the hospital!! I hate thinking of myself like that, gosh why me? I also know that there is an end to every beginning, which means eventually you will get caught, and I don't want to go through this again!
Also, please please help me out with the legal advice too. I know that I could loose my job with this on my record. Is there any way you think I could get this dismissed because of no video, or actual witness?
Please Please help

You seem to be describing something akin to obsessive-compulsive disorder, except... if you have the willpower to avoid shoplifting for clothes except at your favored, expensive boutiques, it's probably more a matter of choice than compulsion. If it truly is a matter of compulsion, as a nurse you probably already know the steps to take - a psychiatric consultation, medication to help with any psychiatric conditions which may contribute to the problem, and psychotherapy (probably cognitive-behavioral) to deal with the problematic thought patterns. Getting appropriate mental health care may also help you convince a prosecutor to consider a deferred disposition or some other mechanism to allow you to avoid a criminal conviction.

Hi I know what you're going through, believe me. I'm in a much worse situation. You will most definitely not go to jail so don't worry about that. It's only petit larceny. It's really not that serious, especially if it's only your first offense.

Also, if the stores send you letters about fines that you must pay for shoplifting, don't pay them. I know it sounds absurd. I thought so to, but I've consulted plenty of lawyers, and even my current criminal lawyer told me just to rip them up. They might send you a couple of letters to intimidate you, but that's the furthest they will take it. Hopefully that'll save you some money = )

About the shoplifting urge, I'm dealing with it too. I've been lifting for 6 years so it's a REALLY hard thing to deal with. Every store I go to, I'm always thinking I can take this.. I can take that. But what really helps is that when you go to stores, take somebody with you that will keep you in check. I went shopping the other day with someone for the first time since I've been caught, and even though I kept having the same urges, I knew I couldn't do anything. That helped me think twice, about the consequences and everything. And even though I was like "but if I stole this I could save 100 dollars!" .. I remembered what I'm going through now and how I'm paying for it now, spending thousands instead. It's not worth it. Keep reminding yourself about it. You don't want to end up regretting your decisions. Believe me, I know.

Well, good luck with everything. I'm sure everything will turn out to be fine.

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I have felt like total crap ever since this happened. I never thought that it would be hard to stop, but I have to admit it is. Maybe I can learn to look for things on sale. :lol: That might not be a bad idea to take a friend with me when shopping again, but none of them know of my deep dark secret. They would probaly flip. They think I'm this innocent, outgoing, fun person. ha, right.
I just wish I could figure it out. I already take Welbuterin, 300 mg a day. It is an antidepressant, but is also known to help people with certain addictions such as smoking. The only reason I started taking it is for extra energy. I'm not depressed, well, not until this whole thing happened. I did find a therapist, I go for the first time this Wednesday. I don't know how much it will help.
I'm still so worried about how I could possibly get this dismissed. If the hospital found out, I know I would get fired. Thats why I was wondering about them not having a video. I haven't consulted a lawyer yet. I will this week. I got a citation, then I have to go to court on the 18th to say guilty or not guilty. Of course I will say 'not guilty' to by time for the attorney to figure out what to do. The other thing is..this will make me sound even worse, but this is not my first offense. Way back when I was in college, about 19 years old, I got a misdemeanor shoplifting (value of merchandise was about $20) I went to a first offenders class, and then it was dismissed off my record. I didn't take anything for a long time after that. I'm 34 now. About 2 years ago, I brought this rather expensive house by myself, plus I have a son, so I started taking things again. I truly want to stop, but it is hard. Especially when you get used to having expensive things. Anyway, does anyone know if I might be able to get this dismissed since they didn't have me on video, and I was given an ultimatum by the cops to either confess, or go to jail? If so let me know, if I could just put this behind me and start new that would be great. Another thing.. NO ONE knows about this. I don't know anyone I feel comfortable telling, that may be another reason I have had so much stress, but this forum has definately helped.

worried, in the other thread you asked for some LP's advice, I gave it to you. In a petty theft, it HAS to be observed by the LP or by the COP! Guessing someone took something by a sound is NOTHING!!!! See a lawyer. You were told by the cops if you DON'T confess, you'll go to jail......not right!! See a lawyer!!

If the store does not have you on video taking anything, is there more of a possibility to get a dismissal?