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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Posts
    2

    Default Court Procedure for Class C Misdemeanor Shoplifting

    My question involves criminal law for the state of: Texas

    I was arrested for shoplifting in Lubbock County in Texas at a grocery store. The total merchandise was under $20. While waiting for the police to come I asked the security at the store what to expect when the police showed up. They said that most likely since the total was under $20 that they would issue me a a citation and a hefty warning. When the police officer showed up he told me he was going to arrest me. I went to jail and spent a little over 24 hours there...probably about 30 hours. I saw a judge the following day and told her that I was not so much concerned with getting out of jail right away or a low bail, but that my biggest concern was to do what was best for my record. I pleaded not guilty and called a local bail bonds place. The total bail was set at $100.

    I am wondering what the best thing to do now is? Like I said I really want to do what is best for my record. I don't want this to follow me around forever. I have heard so many different things I'm not sure what is accurate and what isn't. At one point I was told that a class C misdeminor would not show up on a background check, but others have said differently.
    When I was in jail I was given the option to not go before the judge and simply bond out at $25 dollars and walk away. However it sounded like if I wanted to plead not guilty the thing to do was to go before the judge, which from what I understand, meant I would later have to go before another judge in municipal court.

    The bail bonds company I used told me that even though my bail was paid in full, I was to check in with them to get updates on when my court date would be. This sounded odd to me so I called the municipal court and they told me that the bail bonds company has nothing at all to do with my court date and that I needed to go down to the municipal court and set a court date. After hearing this I called the bail company back and told them what the court had said-- that I was to take care of setting the hearing myself. This time they told me yes, that was accurate and that I would need to come by the bail bonds office and pick up a copy of my paperwork (or something) and take it to the court with me. After a few hours I was still not feeling 100% about all different information I had received from different people so I called the municipal court back one more time to try to clarify and got a different person. This time the lady told me that if I was pleading not guilty and simply wanted to keep this off my record I didn't even need to go before a judge. She said I just needed to come in and pay my fine/ticket in full (around $270) and apply for a deffered something or other...? Now I am super confused!

    *Do I need to go before a judge?
    *Is it in fact the best thing to do to plea not guilty?
    *Will it just be the judge and I in the court?
    *Will the arresting officer be there?
    *Will there be any back and fourth conversation about explaining the circumstances and the chain of events or will the judge just give me my options and be done with it?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Behind a Desk
    Posts
    98,846

    Default Re: Court Procedure for Class C Misdemeanor Shoplifting

    Why would you simply plead guilty? Do you want this permanently showing up on your criminal record?

    You need to investigate whether you qualify for a diversion program, if available in your county, or if you qualify for a deferred sentence. Following successful completion of a deferred sentence for a Class C misdemeanor, you can immediately petition for expungement.

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