Accused of Credit Card Fraud and Receiving Stolen Property
My question involves criminal law for the state of: Pennsylvania
I have a question about something that happened to me and I don't really know what to do. I have never been in trouble before with the cops. I was charged with credit card fraud and receiving stolen property, but I have done nothing wrong.
I was at a bar a couple nights ago and I ordered a $3 pitcher of beer. There was a debit card sitting on the bar by itself so i picked it up planning on giving it to the bartender so it wasnt lost. No beer was poured and I handed it to him. He then asked for my ID. When I gave him my ID i told him that I was not trying to use it to pay, but I was just giving it to him because I found it on the bar. I was then told to wait there while the cops came. They told me I was going to be getting paperwork in the mail with my charges. I received them in the mail recently and I am charged with credit card fraud and receiving stolen property.
The statements that were given by the bartender were skewed alittle and make it look like I had intent to use it to pay for my drink. What is the process from here. I have a preliminery hearing coming up, but i need to get fingerprinted and go to booking before. This is what I am told. That kind of scares me. To me it sounds like I am already proven guilty.
If I am convicted of these charges what is the worst that could happen to me. I am very upset because I have never been in trouble and I did nothing wrong. I was just trying to help out. It was only $3 and i would have gladly paid that and actually did after the fact.
I have already called a lawyer and have a meeting with him, but I cant wait that long for answers as I am very scared because Im scared to get charged for something I didnt even do.
Thank you
Re: Accused of Credit Card Fraud and Receiving Stolen Property
You can look up the crimes you're charged with here, and from that determine the maximum potential penalties. As you chose not to share the statute numbers, I'm not going to spend the time necessary to ferret them out; they're easy to look up by number.