My question involves criminal law for the state of: North Dakota
I am 20 years old have a great Job at a very important company Microsoft I make amazing money for my age and have been charged with Theft. Here is the story my friend and I were at her apartment we had been drinking earlier in the night it is now 6 in the morning and we decide to go to Perkins to eat. I did not have my purse and she offered to pay and I would pay her back. We get to Perkins order quite a bit of food, ask for to go boxes and also the bill split so I knew how much to pay my friend back. Well she then notices that her card is in her work pants from lunch that day. Not thinking to clearly we left. This was totally out of character I have nothing on my record before and I am also a server at a restaurant and this same thing happens to me about once every two weeks and I am stuck paying the bill, so I know better than to do this. My friend accepted full responsibility we turned ourselves in wrote an apology letter spoke to the manager in person, we did everything we could. My friend plead guilty, I plead not guilty. I had court today and my friend testified that it was her and I had no money with me etc.. The judge still laid it out for me he said obviously he sees it was not a money issue just plain theft and he said it is obvious we went there with the intentions of doing this and we are only apologizing because we got caught, yes the employee did write down my friends license plate and called us in but the cop did not know who I was and could have just charged my friend but I went and turned myself in. So I don't see how this can be right I did everything I could to make amends now I really want to appeal this decision.
Is it even worth it?

