My question involves criminal law for the state of: Texas.
Hello all,
I was recently caught shoplifting merchandise totalling approximately 105$. I was charged with a Class B Misdemeanor, and am set to appear in court sometime in early June. This is my first offense - I have an otherwise clean record.
Due to financial circumstances, I am unable to afford an attorney; I plan on going the state-sponsored route (if any of you know of any good, cheap attorneys in the Austin area, do let me know!). I have questions concerning exactly what I can and can't do with this charge. After reading through some other posts, I've heard things mentioned like "deferred adjudication." I've read up on this, but am still a little hazy as to what it exactly means. To be honest, it's kind of frightening to be facing the entirety of the law without an attorney, but I don't really know what else to do.
I'm concerned about what's going to happen in my case, and whether or not I will receive jail time. As I stated, I have a clean record, and this is my first (and last!) arrest. After I was stopped in the store, I had to sign a sheet of paper stating that I tried to shoplift from them - at the time I felt like it was a bad idea, and the store made it clear that they had evidence proving that I did it regardless of whether or not I signed the sheet of paper. I understand that none of you are my attorney, and so I don't want to place an undue burden on any of you, but any information would be greatly appreciated. I know things like this can't be "swept under the rug," but surely there must be something that can lessen the severity of whatever charges I might receive, and possibly lead to an expulsion of my record in the future. Right...?
Thanks in advance!

