Shoplifted Where I Work, First Offense

My question involves criminal law for the state of: colorado

I was recently caught shoplifting before christmas. It was planned out at the new place i was working, I picked out some items and had a friend come in and get those items and let her pick out some things. She came through my register and I didn't charge her for almost anything. so, the video's were watched and a week later i was caught. I was confronted and admitted to everything and gave a statement because i was scared. I was given a court date, and the officer who was there asked me who the 'friends' were. I quickly covered 4 my friend who did me a favor and spit out the names of 2 people I used to know. I know it was stupid, but know i feel like i'm totally screwed.

So, my question is: when i go into court what should I do? I'm 90% sure the girls with the 'fake' names are gonna be there. I cant afford a lawyer, i don't even have a job now. I would really like to take a plea and get probation or something. what are my chances of that??

Show up for court, plead Not Guilty, and ask for a public defender.

You're looking at restitution, fines, and quite possibly jail time. This was no minor shoplifting incident, it's felony theft. Your PD may be able to get you probation.

The crime was actually not a felony. I was told by the officer that the law was recently changed to $1000 to be considered a felony and jail time isnt very likely because of overcrowded jails. I wasn't arrested when I was cught, just given a ticket with a court date

My question involves criminal law for the state of: colorado/ el paso county

Okay, before christmas Myself and 2 friends ripped off the store i had been working at for a month. I had picked out a few things ($150 worth) and i had these girls come in and get what they wanted and check out through my register. I only charged them for very few things. A week later I was called to the office and was busted on camera. The estimate of everything was $800! holy s^*#! luckily, the law had just been changed from $500 to $1000 to be a felony. I admited to everything, gave a statement and gave the names to the officer. I can't afford a lawyer ( if i could then i wouldnt have shoplifted) so i went to court by myself. certain people were offered pleas before hand and the judge had suggested I plead not guilty and schedule a pre-trial conference with the prosecuter.

my questions are: what usually happens at this conference? what should I expect? this is my first offense, the only other things i have on my record are 2 minor traffic tickets.

"I can't afford a lawyer ( if i could then i wouldnt have shoplifted)" - that's a load of nonsense. Unless you and your friends were starving, and you were stealing just enough bread to survive the night, you and your friends stole because you're thieves. My bet is that you stole a load of junk and trinkets - nothing you needed, just stuff you wanted.

You can expect that the prosecutor will offer you a plea bargain of some sort at the pretrial conference. I don't know enough of your circumstances to guess what it might be. I would suggest keeping the "I can't afford a lawyer ( if i could then i wouldn't have shoplifted)" line to yourself, and not reminding the prosecutor that you accused real people - the wrong ones - of being your partners in crime.

no actually. I spent all my money to move back to colorado and by the time christmas came I was broke. This was the 1st christmas with my family in 4 years. I felt really bad about not being able to get anybody anything, so I got a total of 7 gifts. all clothes, jackets, and 2 toys for my little brother and sister. I did not get one thing for myself, and I was desperate. I dont steal. and if i could afford these gifts I would have loved to pay for them. lesson learned. next time , if ever in this situation again, i know not to take the easy way out. so lay off. I'm not some everyday petty thief. as for the names, I froze, and I told the prosecuter the real names.

You say you don't steal and your not a petty thief, yet you were caught stealing $800 worth of stuff. Your family really didn't need these things, you wanted to get them. Huge difference. Your family would be happier if you weren't facing criminal charges, trust me.

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Quoting amandat

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I'm not some everyday petty thief.

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If that were true, you wouldn't be in the jam you're in now.

As for your "lay off" attitude, you ought to mind your manners, Miss Thang, when you're in here begging law abiding citizens for help.

It's time to hoist yourself up by your bra straps and get a grip on your situation. You're in a big pile of mess of your own making, and if you take your pitiful excuses and snot-tastic attitude into court, you're going to torpedo your chances for leniency.