My question involves criminal law for the state of: Colorado
Hello.
I was in City Market today shopping for the restaurant where I work. I decided that while I was there, I would pick up a tube of lip gloss as well. I put the lip gloss in the top basket of the shopping cart and continued on my way. By the time I got to the vegetable isle, I needed to check my shopping list again, so I picked up my purse to look for it, but looked down and saw that the list was sitting right there on top of everything (inside), so I put my put my purse back down, and in doing so, covered the lip gloss.
I took my cart to the self checkout and paid for everything. By this time I had forgotten the lip gloss was under the purse. I put my grocery bags in the cart, and as I was walking out, I got called back by a security officer. I tried to tell him it was completely unintentional, but he said girls do "that move" all the time to conceal cosmetics. The police came and issued me a citation with a court date.
I know it looks bad. I don't know what to do. I was told if I pleaded guilty, it would be cheaper, and probably result in community service and the charge would be wiped from my record in a few months. But I don't want to plead guilty because I didn't do it. I am afraid to fight it though, due to attorney fees and the possibility of being judged as guilty anyway.
What should I do? And am I allowed to bring people to court (or letters from them) to speak on behalf of my personal character?

