I am 20 years old and was caught shoplifting in a store and I'm just trying to figure out what I should do. I looked up what qualified for petty theft in North Carolina, which is where I live, and it says that it has to be under $300-$500, which it was. I got caught by setting off one of the store alarms and a man who worked there came and got me and made me walk through the store alarms again to make sure it was me (I, of course, tried to say that it was not). They went off again as expected and he made me stand at behind his desk while he searched my purse. He then took what I had tried to take out, laid it on his desk, and called the store manager. She got my ID from me and then called security. A security officer and a policeman came and along with the manager they took me to another room in an office and took my picture, picture of what I took, and wrote me a "ticket" for shoplifting and gave me a court date in August. I understand that this means I am being prosecuted, I was just wondering what I should do. I don't have money for a lawyer and I don't even know if I should get one. Is there something that this can be reduced to so that it wont be on my record (this is my first offense of any kind), and do I go to court and ask for that? Also, if I am convicted for this charge, can I get it off my record after a few years? I'm planning on working in schools and I would REALLY like to have this mistake off my records or I wont be able to get a job. Please offer any advice that you have! Thank you.

