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my sister, 19, and i, 22, were charged with petty theft 488 in california. this is our first offense. the amount was $360. the police officer told us that we are gonna have to pay a ticket. we stay in jail one night, they took our figerprints and pictures. i want to know how much is the maximun that the judge can make us pay for each one and if the sentence is gonna be more tahn one year.
[quote="California Penal Code Section 490.5(a)"](a) Upon a first conviction for petty theft involving merchandise taken from a merchant's premises or a book or other library materials taken from a library facility, a person shall be punished by a mandatory fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50) and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each such violation; and may also be punished by imprisonment in the county jail, not exceeding six months, or both such fine and imprisonment."]
You may be able to get this reduced to a petty theft charge or qualify for a diversion program; you may wish to check with a local lawyer.