Charged with Theft 3 in Oregon

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Oregon

I have a few questions about my THEFT III criminal charge and what I should be expecting in court.

It would be GREATLY appreciated if I could have these questions answered because I have no experience as a criminal. :p

I was accused of stealing two donuts from a local Grocery store. The cost of the donuts was about $1.30. I ate the two donuts in the store, with intentions of buying them before i left, I shopped for two other breakfast items, purchased them and proceeded to exit the store, at which point I completely forgot that I ate the donuts. I was then approached by the manager of the store and a clerk who supposedly witnessed the "theft". They asked me if they could see the receipt for the two donuts I ate, and i replied to them by explaining how I forgot I ate them and how I am willing to go back in the store and purchase them. The manager then led me upstairs by my arm and handcuffed me. He then spent a half an hour yelling at me and accusing me of being a "hooligan" and a thief while the clerk who witnessed it searched my wallet for ID, etc. The manager offered me a civil compromise if I admitted that I consciously stole the donuts without intentions of paying but because I did not have intentions of stealing the donuts, I did not accept the agreement. The manager left the room to call the police while I stood there, handcuffed and alone with the clerk. After another 20 minutes the clerk led me down the stairs, at which point I showed the clerk that the manager handcuffed me incorrectly and left my right wrist uncuffed the entire time we were upstairs. He then re-cuffed me and led me through the store and sat me on the floor in the staff room. I sat there for an hour or so while the clerk and the manager filled out forms and waited for the police to arrive. The officer arrived, heard what happened, read me my rights, filled out some forms and then took me to the county jail. I sat there for almost 8 hours before they released me.

I want to do everything I can to prevent me from being at that place again. Your opinion and advice would be extremely helpful, and greatly appreciated.

-what are my possible legal consequences?

-what are the most likely legal consequences?

-what should I plead?

-what am I going to be required to say in court?

-what else should I know about before I go to court?

-what fees should I be expecting to pay?

-will I be able to expunge my record in the future?

-what else should I be expecting in court?

-is there a specific way I should (or shouldn’t) tell my story?

-should I completely submit to the accusations?



I am responsible, employed 18 year old male. I have been arrested once before as a minor for another unfortunate misunderstanding, and because there was auto damage involved and the repair cost was high, it was a considered Class 3 felony. I expunged my record after my 18th birthday, but I have yet to receive anything in the mail from it. Is this going to affect anything?



Please get back to me as soon as you can, I go to court tomorrow. :(
Thank you so much.

So after about thirty minutes in the office, the police were called. It then took a total of seven-and-a-half hours for the police to arrive and finish questioning you.... Why do I find that hard to believe?

If you want advice on how to plead, consult a local criminal defense lawyer. We don't know what evidence there is against you, and haven't heard "the other side of the story".