Hello All-
To begin, I am a 23 year old woman with no prior records and this happened in Michigan
Long story made as short as I can, I was caught shoplifting $66 worth of merchandise from Macy's yesterday. There was a plain clothed lady who followed behind me in the dressing room and then later stopped me at the door before I was out with another member from store security. They took me back to a corney security room took my ID and obviously asked me to give back what I took from my bag and searched my purse. I told them I don't normally do this type of stuff, I had just graduated from undergrad and had just moved home to go to graduate school. He said that that I wasn't telling the truth b/c they had "had their eye on me" and they knew about a belt I had taken a week before. I tried denying at first, but they tried to pin me to a specific day and time that I done it. I finally told them it had been me, but still told them I had no idea what day or time it was- this was a separate incident from what they had actually busted me for. They called mall security and I had to sign the ban for 1 year thing and they also gave me that sheet explaining that Macy's could sue me for civil damages and took my pic. Next, they called lovely Eaton Co police and a very "hard-nosed" female officer eventually came.
The initial security guard was kinda cool about the whole thing and said that since it was my first offense, and if I didn't have a criminal record (which I do not) that they would probably let me off with a "deferment". The cop, on the other hand mentioned being summoned and arrainged/ could face jail time right from the beginning. She said the Co prosecutors would be sending me something in the mail in about a mo (how freaking slow!) that would either have a summons on it or say that they were letting me "defer" this and I would have to call a number and find out about my fine/community service/etc.
Basically, I'm really confused. From most of the threads I've read most of the people go to jail right when it happens and get fingerprinted/etc- this didn't happen to me and am wondering if this is a "good" or "bad" thing so to speak. I also don't know what role the belt incident plays since they didn't actually catch me with it but I basically admitted to it and I don't know what if any other proof they have (video, etc). I am very worried that I'll have to go to court, but compared to some of the things I read I know I'm lucky to not have been arrested at the time it happened.
My main questions are: what are my chances for a deferment, and would they send that notice in the mail, or will I most likely have to go to court anyhow, even if they are going to "let me off" with a fine/community service. Also, how long does something like this stay on my record- if i get a deferment, or if i have to go to court and still get off with fine/community service. Is there pretty much no way to avoid going to court even though I wasn't arrested at the time.
To any one kind enough to offer advice or respond to this- thank you very much in advance and I do truly appreciate any help that can be offered. I am really a person who takes things to heart, and this has been eating me up in side (as it probably should), can't really eat, starting a new job on Monday and it's taking away focus from that to be honest. You can believe me when I say I will never pull this crap again.
thanks! please please help![]()

