18 Years Old Got Caught Shoplifting
My question involves criminal law for the state of: CA
yea...i was stupid, listened to some friend who said it was easy and all blah blah blah.....hes not even a good friend...anyways
it was costco, for two etx hdds, 220 total ive never done this before, so this is first offense.
alrit- - im not gona write a whole essay about how much i regret this, so heres the meat:
i was with a friend, he was a minor, the store manager first say they r gona let us go if our parents come pick us up, so my friend called his parents, and i did the same, though my mom didnt pick up her phone and my dad's phone is dead(though she called me back, it was too late).... so they thought it wouldnt be fair to let one of us go so they called their supervisor and he said go ahead and prosecute us.
the cop let me skip the jail and just gave me a citation because i'm still in high school.
if this info might help in court: in school, im involved in many community service clubs, good grades, cum laude society, California scholarship federation etc....
I REALLY DONT WANT THIS TO BE ON MY RECORD, AND I DONT HAVE TOO MUCH MONEY (NO DUH- -) AND I AM AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT, WHILE MY PERMANENT RESIDENCY STILL IN PROCESS. IVE BEEN CURRENTLY ACCEPTED INTO A UC, AND I NEED LOANS ETC, so the best i can do is ask them to appoint me a lawyer............ SO does anyone know what i can do? do they have programs such as you complete it the charge will be dismissed?.. or i can talk to the appointed lawyer and have him try to lower the charge to an infraction?....
thanks for your help...
Re: 18 Years Old Got Caught Shoplifting
If you qualify for a court-appointed lawyer, request one. Your lawyer can advise you as to any available programs in your county that might allow you to avoid a criminal conviction.
Re: 18 Years Old Got Caught Shoplifting
thank you for ur reply.. that was actually pretty helpful
yeah, after reading a lot of the post here,
and adding on to the knowledge i had from school,
seems like it'l be the only way.
though i cannot afford a lawyer,
appointed one would really help, inluding negotiating with DA etc.
just wondering though, what are the requirements to qualify for appointed lawyer?
Re: 18 Years Old Got Caught Shoplifting
Story Update + Need Some Advice----California----
LONG STORY SHORT,
2 mos ago, was caught w/ 200 dollar of merchandise of costco.
cop came, gave me a court summon. (friend was 17, ended up w/ 35hrs cmunity service+ 35 dollar fine and a class)
today, i went to arrangement court, and asked the judge for any diversion, and he said there is no program for this type of offense. and if i plea guilty i would have 2yr probation+570 dollar fine, and i'l have to report to police department and finger print and stuff. so i said, let me consult w/ a lawyer, but i cant afford one so i'l have to go to public defender, judge entered a not-guilty plea for me and that was end of today.
heres what i want: im a student, still need private loan for university(international student status), need to pay for my stuff, AWAITING FOR GREENCARD<- so i can get state/federal financial aid/student loan.... and thats why i cant have the record of conviction on my name....
what can i do?...
Re: Story Update + Need Some Advice----California----
If you qualify for a court-appointed lawyer, request one and discuss your options with your lawyer.
When you get charged with a crime, you can't count on being able to escape from the situation without a criminal record.
Re: Story Update + Need Some Advice----California----
thank you for your reply.
yeah, i will do so.
btw~ how does the expungement go?
i saw websites online talking about expungement of criminal records.
seems like after serving probation time you can get it expunged if you havent convict anything within the probation period.