My question involves criminal law for the state of: Massachusetts
Yesterday, I and a friend were caught for shoplifting. We were detained, but not arrested, and the police were involved. My friend and I are both 16, but in a week I will be 17. We have 3 charges: Theft of over $250, possessing a burglarious item because my friend had, in his bag, a gun that can remove security tags, and having items from other places in my car when they searched my car. The $289 dollars worth of merchandise was the stuff my friend had and what I had. They told me they would send me a letter in about a month about my court date.
I don't know what I'm supposed to do now.
Do I just wait until I receive the letter?
Should I hire an attorney? Is it worth it? What will they do?
Will this go away when I'm 18? Would I have to check the box on employment applications that I was convicted of a felony?
What will happen at court? What can happen at court?
Does me being 17 at the time of my court date affect anything?
Will we be going to court together because we got caught together?
And I'm applying to colleges soon, how will this affect me?
Does my friend having the gun in his bag affect me as much as him or will it be the same?

