My question involves criminal law for the state of: California
Hello. I am 22 and the girl I was with is 19. I was caught shoplifting at a Safeway grocery store with about $50 worth of groceries. Safeway said that they prosecute anything over $20 in theft. The Loss protection guy was very nice and said that I was one of the most pleasant and friendly people he's ever had to deal with. We talked like friends for most of the paperwork. The typical stuff came up, about Safeway sending me a Civil Demand, etc, etc, and he reassured me that everything won't turn out 'that bad'. I DID sign the paper he asked me to though: I think it was the one that admits to them my guilt. A police offer was called down, but the only reason he called for an officer was that the girl I was being charged with (we're together) didn't live within the area of which he could 'put her into the program' and he said that an officer could do that for him. The cops wouldn't have been called otherwise, and he was not there for any other reason it seemed so I do not think this is a bad sign. No rights were read or anything confrontational, and he barely talked to us. The cop also assured me that I'll probably just get community service/probation.
I'll get a court date in a few weeks, according to them. I would like to ask, with my given circumstances and how light they were making this all seem; what, by your expertise and honest reasoning, would I expect to pay in court/civil demand fines, and how should I proceed to lessen the trouble caused to me?
Is it unlikely that I won't get a record if I leave things as is? They really did make this seem very light, like I'll only get an infraction and won't really have to worry too much after community service. But this forum makes me worry that this is not the case.
Also, if I have done this several times before, and the LP knew that but said he wasn't going to get me in trouble for it (not write it on the report, presumably) because of my respect and honesty towards him; if I plead NOT GUILTY, will there be any worry that the prosecution will drudge up a bigger case against me for something worse than I was originally charged with? In other words, could I be charged for MORE by pleading not guilty due to their unearthing of new evidence to prove their case, than I would if I just pleaded guilty to the original charges?
Thank you,
Tristan

