Best Buy shoplifting charge

I know some people have same story, sorry to bother you. But I am really scared and need help!
I was caught in BestBuy today and now still scared and cannot go to sleep. Total value of $290. The security guys stopped me and let me go into a room, and asked me sign some forms, which may be no enter and description of my shoplifting. They called the police officer, and they asked me some questions too. But finally, they said I could go, I am lucky something, I could be detained if I steal 100 more. and I asked if I should go to court, they said I will get mail, probably I will go to jail something. I didn't really hear cleary of these, since I was very scared. But policemen didn't give me citation. I am confused.
For the whole time, I am very cooperative, admitted the whole thing, and I really just did for only this time, and will never never nerve do such things any more. Not worthy.
My questoins:
1. what is my status now?
2. Should I hire an attorney? and usually how much? I am in Maryland.
3. When usually I will get notice to go to court? Relevant to this, how long the probation could be? Since I only could stay in states for very short time.
4. Can I leave US if I really cannot wait, either the court day, or the long probation time? What usually should I do in probation?
I am 30s.

Thank you so much.

"4. Can I leave US if I really cannot wait...."
Good idea....just leave and don't come back!

Consult a criminal defense lawyer who is familiar with immigration law issues about your situation, to determine the best way to resolve the charge.

I tried to hire a lawyer, who said he is gonna to drop the case. I don't know if he could do it. I told him everything about my future.
I still want to be back some time later, because I am doing scientific reseach, which needs communication.
Question: what is probation? is it supervised? means I need to go somewhere to report my living at times?

and please evaluate my case, serious? very serious? Thank you so much. I really dont' want ruin my career. It is a very good lesson that I will never forget for my life.

PaulE: I need your help.
1. will it affect my visa if I got probation, or prison?
2. If I got bench warranty, will they search my home and office?

Thank you so much.

You should talk to a lawyer who has criminal and immigration experience. I'm guessing you'll get a notice in the mail as to a court date, if you don't go a warrant will be issued. They won't search your house or office, they'll just be looking for you. Don't worry about prison, just go to court when you're notified. If you can't afford a lawyer ask when you go to court the first time and they will assign a public defender, it's free. I don't know if or how it could affect your visa, ask your lawyer.

What is your status in the US? B1/B2 visa? F1?

If you are convicted, you could either be deported or be inadmissible in the future (or both) depending on your conviction.

Have you had your arraignment yet?

Hi,
could you please tell me if police was involved when the incident happened? or did they tell you they will report you to police and send a ticket by mail?

i am also on visa and have not recieved any communication from store or its lawyers it has been 2 months now and i am wondering if i missed any communication from police or from the store. In my case no police was involved at the scene.

Is there any way i can find out if they have filed any charges against me?
can anyone help on this please?
thanks.

moviejim: So far I didn't get any notice either from BestBuy or court. I am on H1. I hired a lawyer and waiting for it. scared. so far, one month passed.
Could you give me some suggestion according to your experience?
Thanks.

Is your H1 expiring soon when you said you had to leave the US?

I don't know how Bestbuy in Maryland works. But seems like from what I read on this board, it could be months before you see a ticket from the court.

If you are worried, I guess your lawyer could call the LP department at Bestbuy and try to find out about your situation. Are they pressing charges? Did they change their mind?

you could say my H1 will expired, while I got a job in my home country. But I DO need to come back to US. Also, this criminal record will possibly cause me to lose my job, and total future. I could NOT afford all of these prices by having a crimnial record. If that, the price is too high, I will have no future, I would like to die. At this point, US citizens are very lucky. It is not like some people here, my work is based on reputation.

I was scared at the time when I was caught. Policemen involved. My english is also not so good. They were discussing for a while outside. I do remember one policeman came in and said " you are lucky, ... to go, because. first time, ID etc. ". I couldn't fully understand and didn't hear clearly for other parts. I was collaborative all the time, answered every single question very in detail.

I don't know why policeman said I am lucky, I think his meaning was they will not detain me in jail for a short time for bait something like that. Because the stolen things worth $290, I think they will not just let me free of this.

I am a research scientist, doing good sciences, published some good research papers, behaving very well all th time for 6 years (I told my boss what happened, he knows me, seems he could help me at this matter.). These days, I went to church and prepare to go to hospital to do volunteer work regularly. I want to do everything that I can do to get a good impression in prosecutor's eye. Then, how do you think the chance that I could get STET, but not criminal record?

Thank you very much.

Again, if you are worried and you said you have retained a lawyer already, ask him to call Bestbuy to find out. If Bestbuy said they had filed the complaint already with the police, then you could check with the police or the court to get a feel of when your arraignment would be.

I would suggest that you don't leave the country until you know the situation of your case.

As far as the INS, even if you are convicted, if you qualify for the "petty theft exception", you are still admissisble to the U.S., meaning once you leave the US and re-enter in the future with a valid visa, the INS can't use your conviction to deny your admission.

Good Luck.

Still no news. My lawyer wants to cancel the case. Close to 4 month now. How do you think?