Seventeen-Year-Old Caught Switching Price Tags and Shoplifting

[17 Year Old]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Wisconsin

So today I was caught shoplifting from Walmart. I don't know how much the stuff we attempted to take was worth. The bar codes on some of the things were damaged along with the tags being taken off. This was the first time I have ever gotten in trouble with the police. I'm extremely nervous and need advice. My mom doesn't know because she didn't answer the phone when they called and I have a 'mandatory' court hearing in a couple weeks I think. They released me without needing to be picked up by a parent because I am 17 and can be charged as an adult. My cousin, who was with me also got caught. She had shoplifted before and I hadn't. She is 15. She keeps telling me I don't have to tell my mom and not to worry about it and not to go to court. I don't know if I was actually charged as an adult or not but will someone please explain what will happen if I don't go to court? Two scenarios maybe? One with me being charged as an adult and one with being charged with a juvenile? I got a citation apparently. The fine is about $375. Excuse me if this doesn't make sense or sounds dumb, I can't get this out of my mind and it's stressing me out.

[adjusterjack]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Wisconsin

So today I was caught shoplifting from Walmart. I don't know how much the stuff we attempted to take was worth. The bar codes on some of the things were damaged along with the tags being taken off. This was the first time I have ever gotten in trouble with the police.

You mean the first time you've ever been caught.

I'm extremely nervous. I can't get this out of my mind and it's stressing me out.

Oh, now it's stressing you out? Wasn't a big deal when you were actually committing the crime and thought it was a good idea and nothing bad would ever come of it.

My mom doesn't know

She'll find out soon enough. You can bet on that.

My cousin, who was with me also got caught. She had shoplifted before and I hadn't. She is 15. She keeps telling me I don't have to tell my mom and not to worry about it and not to go to court.

I hope you aren't going to take legal advice from a 15 year old moron who regularly commits crimes.

I don't know if I was actually charged as an adult or not but will someone please explain what will happen if I don't go to court?

There will be a warrant out for your arrest.

The fine is about $375.

Start saving your pennies.

[Mr. Knowitall]

Under your state's law, "'Adult' means a person who is 18 years of age or older, except that for purposes of investigating or prosecuting a person who is alleged to have violated any state or federal criminal law or any civil law or municipal ordinance, 'adult' means a person who has attained 17 years of age." You're charged as an adult.

She keeps telling me I don't have to tell my mom and not to worry about it and not to go to court.

The only thing I can infer from that is that, even for a 15-year-old, your cousin is not very bright.

If you're in high school and end up with a bench warrant, you may have the wonderful experience of being arrested at school. You could get arrested after a traffic stop. The police could show up one day at your parents' home to arrest you.

...will someone please explain what will happen if I don't go to court?

Start reading.

[DeputyDog]

Your cousin is right; Don't go to court. Just carry enough money around to post bond when a you get arrested after a cop randomly runs your license plate, or you go to the DMV to renew your plates and they call the cops because it shows you have a warrant, or the police are working a warrant detail to go out and pick people up, or you accidentally roll through a stop sign and get pulled over, or about 1,000 other ways you can get arrested when there is a warrant out for your arrest.