In California, the civil demand statute is not as strong as in many other states. Since the goods were recovered it is questionable whether the store can reccover more than $50 in damages. The standard legal advice most California lawyers give their clients is to ignore the civil demand. This apparently works for most people, as in fact civil enforcement actions for the civil demand are rare in California. Having said that, paying the demand may be best anyway to bring closure to the situation.

Since no criminal charges have apparently been filed, this should not affect schooling. It would not affect most non-retail jobs, either.