My question involves criminal law for the state of: Oregon
Hello, I'm just a poor college student that has severely messed up. Forgot to sign up for fafsa and resorted to stealing hot foods at safeway. One day I got caught and I agreed to go in. I only stole $8 worth of food. Half pound of jojo's and a few chicken tenders. He said they will not escalate this case that far since I stole below $10. Now they have sent me a letter stating that I have to pay $256.84 (which I do not currently have) or they MAY escalate this case.
I have read multiple forums and I only have three days left to reply. I'm trying to contact the store owner to see if he will do anything since I read that they might dismiss it, then I would have to talk to the law office.
Also they didn't even spell my name right and have little to no information on me except a bad picture of me, my phone, and temp address (about to move our during the summer).
I feel like they have better cases to deal with than a petite case like this, but I can never assume.
Please tell me what I should and can do. Possibly of them disregarding this?

