My question involves criminal law for the state of: Ohio


Last week, my girlfriend of 7 months broke up with me while I was at work. I got off work around midnight and decided I was going to steal some alcohol from a grocery store nearby. I hadn't done it yet in this brand new store(I know stupid) but I had cased the place, noting where the cameras were not able to see.

So around 12:30 I decided to go in since they close at 1. I picked up some regular people groceries including honey nut cheerios, a jar of mayo, couple can of cat food, paprika, and of course I took two 750mL bottles of Hypnotiq alcohol.

The value was under $40 I think. I went to the furniture department where cameras could not see and slipped them into my front wasteband. Next, I went to the bathroom, leaving my basket of groceries on the floor nearby. Inside the bathroom was a man who appeared to be pooping heavily in one of the stalls. I went in one of the stalls and pretended to use it until the man finished his business.

Once he left, I took out a cleaned out blue dish soap bottle which I had brought from home which is similar in color to the blue hypnotiq drink and 24.5 fl oz which is exactly enough room for 2x 750mL bottles. I poured the alcohol into the dish soap till they were empty. Quickly, I left the stall and wrapped the bottle in copious wet brown paper towels and stashed them into the bottom of the trash (assuming a dumb employee would not notice them later). With my alcohol filled dish soap in waste band, I exited the bathroom.

I did a quick shop around the store to pick up some more goodies and headed straight for the U-Scan. There were a few guys standing around looking like shoppers near the front who were just chilling there which I found odd. I bought all my groceries, including the alcohol infused blue dish soap. As I made my way to the exit, I was surrounded by about 4 different guys who told me to turn around and put my hands together like I was praying.

I told them I didn't know why I was being detained and they told me to shutup. They asked me my age as we went back to a private interrogation room and upon finding out I just turned 18, they started telling me I would be going to Jackson Pike since the county jail was out of power that night and trying to scare me in general. They took down my information and were telling me I was drunk and would be feeling very drunk soon. They showed me the empty bottles they found. Which I denied drinking.

Police showed up and I went to the police station to get documented. When the police asked, I told them the story and they found it very creative what I did. I told them about the girlfriend to explain why I did it. They gave me a court date and I ended up bailing out with the cash I had on hand.

My question is, what are the chances I will go to jail? And since I just turned 18, will they charge me as an adult or will it be a fine with a slap on the wrist?

I am thinking about lawyering up but I don't have any money. Should I pay the money for a good one to take me to trial or am I better off just taking the charge for I believe is petty larceny since it wasn't valued high?

extra info: This is my first charge EVER! and I get high grades in school and work really hard. I don't want my job to find out, so I really want to avoid jail. Also I don't have much money so I want the littlest fine possible. The store said I'm banned but I didn't have to sign anything, just gave them my info.