Chance of Prosecution for Minor Theft

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Illinois

Hello...
About a month ago i walking into target without the intention of stealing but the intention of buying brand new head phones.
Well, as i approach the electronics section i find the headphones that i want to buy.
I have 13 dollars and i was disappointed.
after looking at the headphones for a while i decided(or felt) that i could get away with taking these headphones. turns out I was wrong.
As i was going down the stairs AP came from behind and said "hey i believe you have some of my stuff"
He proceeded to tell me not to run or do anything crazy. he also said that the police were NOT going to be involve and he was going to take me into this office upstairs. after going upstairs there was a security guard present who took my picture..
The AP told me that i am still allowed to shop at target...
after a while i signed a form..
I forgot the specifics of the form so i cant really tell you all what the form stated.... The only information the AP asked from me was me name and address.. He also told me i would get a fine in a mail for the price it costed for him to hold me in that room..said it would be "not that much more then the headphones"..anyways about a week ago i received the letter from target for a demand of 500 dollars..
I was devastated simply because of the fact that I had no job no money..and my mom is sick on an oxygen machine..
as I read the letter it said that paying this demand wont preclude me from prosecution from police officials...
I am aware that I might be prosecuted because of this stupid stupid incident.

I am 18 years old..
Never done ANYTHING that went against the law in my entire life.
I have a perfectly clean record..
Now my question is..
after I pay this civil demand...
Is there a large chance that I might get prosecuted for 14 dollar head phones?
I am really scared because my mother is very sick and i really REALLY dont want to disappoint her or make her think i hang out with a bad crowd because i dont...
I still never told her about the incident but i cant stop thinking about it and I think i might actually tell her soon...


Please reply

Thank you

I also would like to add that I called ap to make a payment plan of 100 dollars a month..I also asked for a deadline..
they said that if i dont pay by the deadlines..
they will call collection...What does this "collection" do?
if someone could please explain

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Is there a large chance that I might get prosecuted for 14 dollar head phones?

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Not necessarily a large chance, but certainly A chance. They have a year to press charges.

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they said that if i dont pay by the deadlines..
they will call collection...What does this "collection" do?

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You get nasty letters and phone calls demanding payment, it trashes your credit, and sometimes they take you to court.

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Quoting LawResearcherMissy

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Not necessarily a large chance, but certainly A chance. They have a year to press charges.



You get nasty letters and phone calls demanding payment, it trashes your credit, and sometimes they take you to court.

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Oh...If taken to court what are the punishments for such a thing?

Under both circumstances...If collection were to take me to court, and if I were to be taken to court by officials.

Fines and restitution, usually. Probation as well. Sometimes you can enter a diversion program to keep the charge off your record.

With respect to collections, they can take you to court to have you compelled to make the payment, and have you held responsible for court and attorney fees as well. Additionally, they can petition for wage garnishment or bank account levy, and simply take the money from you through those methods.

so basically the punishments aren't really that bad.

Thanks for the info, if you have any more to share that would be great.

I'm sure that i have learned from my lesson and i will never EVER attempt to take ANYTHING from a store without paying again..

By the way, this has been bothering me alot.
Upon reading the other post from other people I came across a case in which the kid paid for the fee and everything.. and as soon as he paid he got a mail for the warrant of his arrest.. Is this another possibility that might happen to me because i dont think you can get arrested for a civil demand..

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Quoting Meneks

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so basically the punishments aren't really that bad.

Thanks for the info, if you have any more to share that would be great.

I'm sure that i have learned from my lesson and i will never EVER attempt to take ANYTHING from a store without paying again..

By the way, this has been bothering me alot.
Upon reading the other post from other people I came across a case in which the kid paid for the fee and everything.. and as soon as he paid he got a mail for the warrant of his arrest.. Is this another possibility that might happen to me because i dont think you can get arrested for a civil demand..

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Basically what im asking is...do i have to go to jail for this?
the item was 14 bucks...no police were called and i just got a fine in the mail..
I can NOT stop thinking about this and its really getting to me.

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Quoting Meneks

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Basically what im asking is...do i have to go to jail for this?
the item was 14 bucks...no police were called and i just got a fine in the mail..
I can NOT stop thinking about this and its really getting to me.

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If you do not pay the civil demand, your life will not get BETTER.

First, the retailer will take you to court for the demand amount. The retailer will win since you signed a document admitting to the theft. Then, you will get to pay the fine, the court costs and the retailer's legal fees.

This may triple the amount of the original demand.

Pay it.

Also, there is nothing that says a retailer cannot call the police and file a report later. However, due to the dollar amount, that probably won't happen unless you hack the retailer off.

By doing something like, say, not paying the civil demand.

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Quoting cyjeff

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If you do not pay the civil demand, your life will not get BETTER.

First, the retailer will take you to court for the demand amount. The retailer will win since you signed a document admitting to the theft. Then, you will get to pay the fine, the court costs and the retailer's legal fees.

This may triple the amount of the original demand.

Pay it.

Also, there is nothing that says a retailer cannot call the police and file a report later. However, due to the dollar amount, that probably won't happen unless you hack the retailer off.

By doing something like, say, not paying the civil demand.

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one other question...I am aware that officials might press charges against me and they ha ve a year to do so...
my question is does that year start after i pay the fine or before?

It starts from the day of the offense.

Just pay the demand and stop fretting.

You'll sleep better and you won't spend so much time asking strangers repetitive questions.

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Quoting LawResearcherMissy

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You get nasty letters and phone calls demanding payment, it trashes your credit, and sometimes they take you to court.

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Show me where it can ruin your credit. Civil demand does not go against your credit unless they take you to court and win a judgment against you. And that is rare.

Law Research Missy I am interested in where you get your information from.