Shoplifting at Walmart 17 Year Old

My question involves criminal law for the state of: california

Recently a friend and I were at walmart when I decided to take a computer part valued at just over 10 dollars after tax. I was caught outside the store exit by a LP employee and taken to a back room without my friend who was allowed to leave. The man asked to have the item back and I did not deny stealing it. In the back room he asked for my id and copied my info down. I did not tell him my ssn. I am 17 and he decided to not call police but just called my parents and gave me a sheet of paper for the fee that would come in the mail. I am assuming this is the civil demand. He told me he saw the entire process but did not have me sign anything. What I want to know is, will the civil demand be $200+ like some say it will or will it be less? How long will it be before I get it in the mail and after it is payed will that be the end of this whole ordeal? If the fee is paid on time will I have to go to court? No time during or after the questioning were the police present. Also will this show up or create any problems with possible employers. I am looking to get a job soon and am worried it will hurt me during an interview. I have definately learned my lesson and thanks in advance for any help.

We cannot predict the amount WalMart will demand from you. We cannot tell you how long it will take them to act on LPs report.

Generally, if you pay the civil demand, you won't be prosecuted. That doesn't mean you're immune from prosecution, though - they have up to two years to press charges, even if you pay the civil demand timely.

If the police were not involved, you have no criminal record, and as far as future employers are concerned, you're as pure as the driven snow.

Pay the civil demand when it shows up and keep your nose clean thereafter, and you should be just fine. If WalMart does decide to press charges (unlikely, but still permitted by law), retain counsel immediately.

Thank you for your clear reply! Have you ever heard of anyone being taken to court over an item valued so low, and also being a minor?

All the time.

My husband is a retail district manager. His company, as a matter of principle, prosecutes the HELL out of shoplifters. Even minors. Even if all they swiped was a tube of lip balm.

They're not the only ones who do so, though many retailers will set a threshold under which they won't bother. (It varies from retailer to retailer.)

So as far as walmart is concerned and from previous stories on here is the trend to let the kid go with just a civil demand or prosecute them?:confused:

Quote:

---

Quoting LawResearcherMissy

---

They're not the only ones who do so, though many retailers will set a threshold under which they won't bother. (It varies from retailer to retailer.)

---

It also varies from WalMart to WalMart. Many thieves were sucked into the reports that WalMart wouldn't prosecute for thefts under $25.00

Quote:

---

Quoting Security Consultant

---

It also varies from WalMart to WalMart. Many thieves were sucked into the reports that WalMart wouldn't prosecute for thefts under $25.00

---

Good. Make it hard for the thieving little wastes of oxygen.

(I am still very much in favor of changing the punishment for shoplifting to taping the wretch to a chair and letting the lowest paid employee in the store beat him with a bat until he's too tired to hit the thief any more.)

Quote:

---

Quoting LawResearcherMissy

---

Good. Make it hard for the thieving little wastes of oxygen.

(I am still very much in favor of changing the punishment for shoplifting to taping the wretch to a chair and letting the lowest paid employee in the store beat him with a bat until he's too tired to hit the thief any more.)

---

Well now you have me a bit more worried. In regards to my last question have you heard of similar cases and what were the results?

Quote:

---

Quoting LawResearcherMissy

---

they have up to two years to press charges

---

One year...

Quote:

---

Quoting CourtClerk

---

One year...

---

So which is the real answer?