My question involves criminal law for the state of: My question involves criminal law for the state of: California
I went to target with my 7 year old daughter to purchase a book for her. We got the book Then we headed over to the make up section. I spent about 10 minutes there looking at make- up brushes and finally made my choices. I put the 3 brushes in the front part of the cart. My daughter then jumped in the shopping cart to begin reading her book.
We then headed to the toothpaste aisle where she jumped out of the cart to help me choose toothpaste. At that point I noticed she got her white hat dirty from her being in the cart. Once we picked out the toothpaste she told me she wanted to get back in the cart so I moved my purse from the back of the Cart to the front, which from what was told is considered concealment. She did not jump into the cart yet because we smelled the popcorn and I asked if she wanted some and said yes. So that is why I did not put the rest of our personal items( jackets and hat) in the front of the cart. We stopped at the clearance section where I grabbed two items that were 70% off. We began to walk to the registers to pay and I gave her money to go buy the popcorn, I watched her from the other side of the registers. Once I saw her walking back I grabbed her white hat, white jacket and my jacket and threw it in front of the shopping cart she jumped into the cart I and proceeded to the registers.

At this point me and her are chomping away at the popcorn we are starving and had plans to meet with family for dinner. I pay for her book the tooth paste and one of the 70% items. We walk towards the exit and exit the store when I'm confronted by an security guard and a plain clothed women. At this point I have NO CLUE what is going on.... I ask them multiple times what is going but obviously they are just yelling at me to keep walking. They walk my daughter still in the Cart and myself into a back room and ask me to pick up my purse and that Is when I realize what is going on. I tell them that it was an accident but all they can do is laugh at me and mock me. This goes on for several minutes, they are extremely disrespectful, aggressive and harsh. Mind you my daughter is present. They hand me a form that states I'm admitting to shoplifting. I tell the ladies that I do not want to sign it and they start yelling at me again. To just admit it and that I'm making things difficult and if I don't sign the form they will call the police and I will be taken away handcuffed and if I want my daughter to have to see that. At this point my daughter is still in the cart she starts crying and telling she's scared. So I take her out of the cart and sit her next To me. They continue threatening me by saying that if they call the police CPS will also be called to take my daughter away. So I sign the form for my daughter sake. In hindsight I feel like a total idiot for signing the form. But all I could think is my daughter is frightened and I'm trying to protect her.

I am a 33 year old single mother. I am my daughter's example and in no way would I ever have Her believe that stealing is any type of acceptable behavior, EVER. So to be accused of it in that manner is shameful to me. After being there for awhile I explained to both of the LP ladies what happened, they were calmer and nicer to me and told me that it wasn't that big of deal and that it is just petty theft and I could get it take off my record with target and the courts. But I don't want ANYTHING like this to be ever associated with me. An officer was called and I revieved a citation. Is there anything I can do to get the record taken away with target and citation dismissed with the courts? I called to speak to a manager yesterday but he was not much help. Should I call Target's corporate office? What can I do?