My question involves criminal law for the state of: Illinois
Thank you in advance for your advice. I was shopping at a CVS across the street from my job (I visit this CVS at least once a week, if not more). I get my prescriptions there, I know most of the staff...
I started using my reusable shopping bag to throw stuff in while I was shopping. Not my purse but one of those fold up bags. I use it every time I go to CVS and many other stores. I was in a hurry and put laundry detergent, softener and a toy for my dog in my bag. I then walked over to grab a gatorade and held it in my hand. On the way to the register, I heard my phone ringing in my purse so I quickly went to the self checkout thinking work was calling. I rang up the gatorade and paid for it. I should note that my Mother just died and my husband is going through some rough times after being injured very badly. On top of that work is crazy, hence my rushing to get back there upon hearing my phone ringing. Anyway, you probably know where this is going. On my way out the door, a man came up behind me and said "excuse mam, I need you to come with me." I turned around and said "ok..." and as we were walking back in the store I said who are you? He said loss prevention and my mind raced. I honestly thought he wanted to talk to me for some other reason. I then remembered what I bought and said I paid for my gatorade. He said ok, I know just come with me. 30 seconds later my stomach dropped and I said "oh my god, I have stuff in my bag I'm so sorry...I will pay for it!"
I've accidentally walked out of a store before with things like a 24 pack of pepsi in the bottom of my cart or dog food that was too heavy to put on the conveyer belt. As soon as I realized it, I ran back in the store to pay. I'm in my 30's and have never shoplifted in my life. Not even as a kid.
Needless to say and long story short...they have heard that story before. I was stunned and in shock and blabbering like an idiot which I'm sure didn't help matters. I asked to talk to the manager and apologized and said that I was absentminded and she could check the videos. The woman was IN the aisle with me as I was putting things in my bag. Nothing I did was sneaky. I wasn't doing this on the sly and I certainly didn't intend to steal something as stupid as laundry detergent. She wasn't having it and said "we were watching you the whole time, we saw you put the stuff in your bag." I told her that yes I put it in my bag, yes I walked out. I am guilty of being a forgetful idiot, not shoplifting.
She called the police and they came to arrest me. I was mortified. This is a store I am in ALL the time, not to mention right across from work. At that point I realized that me going on and on about how it was an accident wasn't going to get me anywhere and that these people hear this all the time. Somewhere in the course of all this I remembered that I had recently complained to this manager about her employee being rude to me. I also said that I had family on the police force but got the location wrong so they thought I was lying until later in the police car when I remembered. This is a nightmare. I spent 11 hours in jail.
I have a lawyer who is great. He said he would of course help me. My question is: do judges even consider the fact that I have had the same full time job for 10 years, I've never been arrested and I am a contributing member of society who will not do anything even remotely close to this again? I have learned my lesson and I also realize that accident or not, I walked out of a store carrying things I did not pay for. I get that. But will he or she even entertain the thought that this was an accident? I am sure every single person that walks in that door tells them that they're not guilty. But isn't pleading guilty to a case for a plea bargain from the other side just to get out of a jail sentence and/or fine also lying under oath?
I don't expect you guys to believe me at all. I just need some advice. Do I need to just suck it up and deal with what they give me or do I fight to say that I'm not guilty? Help me please.

