I'm seventeen and I was caught shoplifting with a friend at Nordstrom San Diego. The merchandise I stole totaled to about $435! It was a STUPID mistake and I thought I could get away by stealing so much. Of course, I got caught and was taken into an interrogation room by the LPO.

They sent me home after long hours of being in the office (after calling my parents, of course). About a week later, I recieved a letter in the mail saying I have to pay a fine of about $500.00 and I had to pay it within 30 days or they'll take me to court.

Now they city is taking me to court and I don't know what'll happen! I don't know what to do and this shoplifting thing is my first offense! I had a CLEAN record until this!

I talked to an officer and he said I should've been charged with burglary but he dropped it to shoplifting because I had a clean record.

I'm really scared and I don't know what to do. Should I talk to an attorney? A lawyer? I heard that I could seal off my juvenile record when I'm eighteen. How do I do that? How can I get a plea to a lesser charge? I don't want to go to community classes because it'll get in the way of my school activities. Also, because I'm paying such a huge fine for Nordstrom, how can I get the court to give me a lesser charge? There's so much that I don't know and I need help! Please share what you know! Ever since I got caught shoplifting, I have been more than afraid. I've never done anything this bad my whole seventeen years! Please help!