First Offender-False Pretense Merchandise
My question involves criminal law for the state of: North Carolina. I am 23 Years of age.
Hello.
Long story short, a week and a half prior to my arrest I returned three items I did not pay for at a Wal mart I was working at from within the store and received a 150.00 Gift card on the items. I bought groceries with the gift card.. A week and a half later I came back to work as scheduled, took my first break, then when i returned to the floor they called me to the back. There was a loss prevention lady in there and some other guy who asked me a bulk of questions. We discussed shrink and such, then he asked me if I'd like to fix a few of my problems. I was not about to play the denial/stupid game so I complied peacefully with a "yes". *In the end, I was still allowed on the premises*
Note: I also took an airbed from Wal-mart during my employment, which was discussed as well. They also have me write a confession, which i stated i took an airbed, and was responsible for the three items mentioned. The guy asked me why i took the airbed and I told him that I didn't have anything to sleep on, and that I was experiencing financial problems.
Long story short, he showed me the receipts of the items( or rather i Saw them from a distance) ( they also had a cd which I believe to be video evidence) I returned and I was then terminated, hand cuffed and taken to wake county Jail where i spent 4 days thinking about what I did, going insane and eating nasty unhealthy food. I had my first hearing on the day I was released for the time being. The judge said my actions resulted in a Class A felony, punishable up to two years in prison. When i was dismissed a guy called me back in, to talk with me, he talked with a judge and allowed me to go home- pretrial release. I was instructed to call a number every Tuesday, which I've been keeping up with. My hearing is on March 2nd.
My sister sort of knows an attorney who said she'd be willing to help me out , she charged me 500, But she said she normally charges 1,000. She said she will try her best to get the charges reduced to community service and/or probation. I have already been appointed an attorney, But i 've tried to contact her on several occasions, her assistant said she would return my call but she hasn't, I believed she was not all so interested in my case because I wanted to talk with her about the possible outcome. Thats when i decided to go with my sisters friend.
This is my charge as stated: Took items from store that he didn't pay for to get a return on them. He received a gift card for the amount of 149.42.
Now as I am already worried abotu possible time, i'm even more worried that i wrote a confession pretty much explaining my guilt, but Moreso because There is no air bed charge stated anywhere on this red slip. I am worried that if anyone from walmart ( the witness on my red slip or anyone else) is there they may try to even incriminate me further by bringing up the airbed or showing my written confession to the judge if he/she doesn't have it already, possibly adding more pressure to the two years i could potentially get. Now, I have never been in any case like this before, So my only instinct would be to "plead guilty" since I am.
My Questions: Since I am a first time offender, what is the likelihood of me going to prison?
Second: What is the liklihood of an "Airbed theft" charge manifesting?
Thanks for your time.
Re: First Offender-False Pretense Merchandise
Quote:
Quoting
Donny
My question involves criminal law for the state of: North Carolina. I am 23 Years of age.
Hello.
Long story short, a week and a half prior to my arrest I returned three items I did not pay for at a Wal mart I was working at from within the store and received a 150.00 Gift card on the items. I bought groceries with the gift card.. A week and a half later I came back to work as scheduled, took my first break, then when i returned to the floor they called me to the back. There was a loss prevention lady in there and some other guy who asked me a bulk of questions. We discussed shrink and such, then he asked me if I'd like to fix a few of my problems. I was not about to play the denial/stupid game so I complied peacefully with a "yes". *In the end, I was still allowed on the premises*
Note: I also took an airbed from Wal-mart during my employment, which was discussed as well. They also have me write a confession, which i stated i took an airbed, and was responsible for the three items mentioned. The guy asked me why i took the airbed and I told him that I didn't have anything to sleep on, and that I was experiencing financial problems.
Long story short, he showed me the receipts of the items( or rather i Saw them from a distance) ( they also had a cd which I believe to be video evidence) I returned and I was then terminated, hand cuffed and taken to wake county Jail where i spent 4 days thinking about what I did, going insane and eating nasty unhealthy food. I had my first hearing on the day I was released for the time being. The judge said my actions resulted in a Class A felony, punishable up to two years in prison. When i was dismissed a guy called me back in, to talk with me, he talked with a judge and allowed me to go home- pretrial release. I was instructed to call a number every Tuesday, which I've been keeping up with. My hearing is on March 2nd.
My sister sort of knows an attorney who said she'd be willing to help me out , she charged me 500, But she said she normally charges 1,000. She said she will try her best to get the charges reduced to community service and/or probation. I have already been appointed an attorney, But i 've tried to contact her on several occasions, her assistant said she would return my call but she hasn't, I believed she was not all so interested in my case because I wanted to talk with her about the possible outcome. Thats when i decided to go with my sisters friend.
This is my charge as stated: Took items from store that he didn't pay for to get a return on them. He received a gift card for the amount of 149.42.
Now as I am already worried abotu possible time, i'm even more worried that i wrote a confession pretty much explaining my guilt, but Moreso because There is no air bed charge stated anywhere on this red slip. I am worried that if anyone from walmart ( the witness on my red slip or anyone else) is there they may try to even incriminate me further by bringing up the airbed or showing my written confession to the judge if he/she doesn't have it already, possibly adding more pressure to the two years i could potentially get. Now, I have never been in any case like this before, So my only instinct would be to "plead guilty" since I am.
My Questions: Since I am a first time offender, what is the likelihood of me going to prison?
Second: What is the liklihood of an "Airbed theft" charge manifesting?
Thanks for your time.
Plead not guilty and speak to your lawyer when you go to court.They will try to arrange a favorable plea bargain for you.A lot of times lawyers don't return calls
Re: First Offender-False Pretense Merchandise
Hi.
Thanks for your response.
If I plead "not guilty" wouldn't I be lying?
And what is a plea bargain ?
Thx
Re: First Offender-False Pretense Merchandise
lol,yea,it's common place to plead not guitly.If you plead guitly they can senentce you right there. In a plea bargain you can plead to a lower charge,plead guitly n arrange for there to be no jail time,etc.Basically your lawyer arranges a deal with da for you. I had to go to court,it was hard to contact my lawyer,it does make you nevous. When you go to court you will have some time to talk them and see sup with your case.
You ask your lawyer about a diversion program ,reducing the charge to a misdeamanor (if possabile) and wanting to stay out of jail,and then see what he can arrange for you.
Re: First Offender-False Pretense Merchandise
Thanks for your responses.
Pardon my ignorance, this is all really too new to me.
If any one from Wal-Mart just so happens to be at my hearing can they also show the judge my confession letter and further incriminate me for shoplifting of air bed at later notice? Even though that was not part of the charge, they knew beforehand that I had did it anyway. Would that be allowed or no? Whats the likelihood of something like that happening?
Had a realistic dream about my case last night and it seemed highly probable that would happen. That or I'm thinkin' too much.