My friend has been charged in a first time shoplifing in Troy Court..It's called Ratail Fraud 3, a misdemeanor. Even though it's his first offence for a $30 shoplifting, he's not been offered a diversion of deferred sentence program.

His lawyer has met the City Procecuter and told him that deferred sentence is not given in Troy Court as a policy. What should he do now? Plead guily or not? He's not sure if the CP is telling the truth on deferred sentence. His lawyer has got him a copy of the evidence against him...there's no video..there's a report from LPO of Marshalls saying he had put an object of $30 in his bag and walked away not paying and was caught at the doors. My friend is 35 and his first such arrest by police (later on released on a $250 bond). What should he do? If he leaeds not guilty, will he be offered a deferred sentence or asked to go to trial? And if he goes to trial, what are his chances of winning the case or at least get a deferred sentence? Or should he pledd guilty but then have a conviction on record for a $30 shoplifting.

Please advice.