Civil Demand Questions

[GHJohnson808]

I was recently caught at OfficeMax stealing.

After all was said and done....

I was charged with Criminal Damage to Property and Theft, which the LP officer said I would have to pay a $325 fine, and did not mention a pay date.

1 month later, I get a letter from "Palmer, Reifler & Associates" demanding $775 in 20 days upon letter receipt.

WHY would I get this, when I was told by LP I had to pay $325?

ALSO, when the crimes were committed, I was 16, and I am now 17. (Birthday happened 2 weeks after LP "Talk"). If this goes to court, will I be charged as a Juvenille, or adult??

Theft was because I stole various items while working there, and Crim Damage to property was because I partly damaged the phone system. Dumb idea ... (this was while I worked there)

Is Office Max strict on civil demands? WOULD they take me to court over $775? This is a "First Offence", and my record is clean with no priors on anything.

This happened in southern Illinois.


Thanks for any help.

EDIT: LP Claimed they caught me using "Pinhole" cameras (Also called chips, as the actual camera is the sie of a pinhole and the PCB/Circuit board attached to it makes it the size of a potato chip)

[seniorjudge]

If this goes to court, you will probably be charged as a juvenile.

But the prosecutor can ask for you to be charged as an adult.