I live in California, I'm 21 and was working in a retail store. After undergoing very hard money issues I began taking clothes from my store.
Needless to say I got caught, and they added it up to about $700.
I signed a paper saying I knew what I did was wrong, and I signed another saying I am more than willing to pay it all back and give back the stuff I still had with tags.
I was arrested for this, and charged with felony grand theft. This WAS MY FIRST OFFENSE EVER. I know that has a lot to do with my conviction. I was very cooperative with the police and store and both told me that will greatly influence the judge.
My questions are, one: how or can i talk to a court appointed attorney BEFORE my court arraignment day(i cannot afford an attorney)? Two, if I already signed those papers saying I'd pay it back, how do I plea in court? If Third, if I plea guilty or no contest(i think it's called) then do I get a chance to tell the judge about being me being remorseful and was very cooperative? Will that likely drop the charge down? Fourth, is it up to the store to drop to charges, or the law once i've already been arrested?
PLEASE HELP. I have an arraignment this week, and need to know what to expect because I'm scared and have no clue what to expect.
Thanks.

