Outcomes from Recent Cases

[airhead]

bam-
I stole $8.68 worth of food from a local grocery store. I admitted my guilt and did everything the LP officer said and was completely honest. i am 23 and have no prior convictions/problems/anything. i have a court date for Nov and have plead guilty to misdemeanor theft. I already paid $250 in restitution to the store. I live in Idaho and I am trying to get a public defender. I appreciate any thoughts you have.

[bam!]

bam-
I stole $8.68 worth of food from a local grocery store. I admitted my guilt and did everything the LP officer said and was completely honest. i am 23 and have no prior convictions/problems/anything. i have a court date for Nov and have plead guilty to misdemeanor theft. I already paid $250 in restitution to the store. I live in Idaho and I am trying to get a public defender. I appreciate any thoughts you have.

What you should do is ask the Public Defender (PD) if you can get some community service and/or probation. I have yet to see someone go to jail for such a small amount especially if they were cooperative and showed remorse. Do not immediately plead guilty, the LP might not show up and the case may get dropped.

You should expect fines, suspended sentence and probation. I seriously doubt that you are going to pull time if you are being completely honest here. Chalk this up as a learning experience. If the outcome that you receive in the courtroom is not favorable (you don't like it - you get jail time etc) appeal it. Scrounge up some cash and pay for a lawyer. You do not have to take the first sentence as the final answer. Good luck and try not to steal anymore.

[chuckycheese]

I think you can stop worrying about going to jail. Here, in California, you could probably steal a car and not go to jail. I realize things are different there, (for a variety of reasons that are not politically correct to talk about) but I think you'll be just fine; be contrite, humble and respectful.

You'll be fine...just be honest from this day forward and sin no more....

[airhead]

thank you both very much. at this point i'd cut off my hands before i stole again. while i know nobody trusts a thief, my actions have really underlined the importance of a virtuous life in my head.
i already plead guilty (i had a time to set a court date, and went up to a secretary to set it, and she had me submit a plea, which kind of threw me for a loop.) about public defenders--i honestly have no money, i live at home, but when i was filling out a form for it they said 1. i may not get a public defender and 2. if i do i might have to pay.
i know little about law, but i know i have the right to a court appointed attorney if i cannot pay for one. could they really deny my request? i ask because while i personally don't have any money, my parents are more stable--however i am 23 and they have no legal obligation to pay, i would assume.
thank you