My question involves criminal law for the state of: MD,
I will try to tell my tale in a short manner. I have been in a financial hole with medical bills and being a single father (no excuses just facts of the matter). For around 5 months or so I stole items from a major department store and sold things online. I took a couple back for store refunds as well during that time. Amazingly I have not been found out to date that I am aware of. I realize that I have no excuses. I’m not asking for anyone to understand or support my behavior. It’s abominable I know. Everyone that does this says the same things I realize too. I truly am ashamed and am taking steps to gain some self-worth back. Anyone that does this feels this way either because they got caught or fear they may. I’m not different in that way because I have developed that fear of being caught and with that a light bulb has gone off and that’s a silver lining for me. It’s allowed me to see how out of control I had become and I sought help. Keep in mind I have not been caught so I’m not coming from the perspective people have when they first get caught. Well thank God I woke up one day and realized I was in a low dark place and out of control. I have not been caught for any of the thefts over that time but I live in fear I will be at some point. I stopped my behavior a month and a half ago, and never went back to the store. I checked myself into therapy and for those things I am grateful. I am 39 years old with a decent job and no prior criminal history whatsoever. I have a beautiful daughter for whom I feel I have failed and she is obviously unaware. I don’t even have a speeding ticket on my record. I was desperate to make ends meet and I did these awful things. I am not asking for anyone’s understanding or a moral beat-down. I’ve already given that to myself and I live in fear and shame and guilt for which I have no one to blame except that man in the mirror every day. I have a few questions. #1 having never been caught and a month and a half has gone by am I likely to be caught? 2. What charges would I be up against with thefts, returns, and selling the stuff, I estimate over those months I took $3000 of specific things? 3. Worst case what would I be looking at with no priors: big fines, restitution, and probation? 4. Could I avoid jail and Could I get pbj? 5. I haven’t set foot in there in that same period of time and I never will, how would they find out about me if they don’t know at this point, a review of tapes from months gone by? If I could go in there now and pay them back every cent I would gladly find a way to do it. I know that would be suicide though. Many ways I feel the fear and shame I live in is the worst sentence of all. I wish there were programs which let you make anonymous restitution for crimes that no one is aware of. I’d love to make this right but at this point I can’t walk in with a check. To top it all off as well I have just been diagnosed with MS/Lupus. I'm being paid back for my crimes I know. I thank everyone for reading and god bless…

