In California Accused of Theft

[clexlove]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: California

Hi there.. May someone help me? I'm trying to see if I can drop this theft charge that was put on my record when I was 19... I'm 21 now and this record has caused me to be rejected from nursing schools that I'm applying to now.

I was working at an electronics retail store in southern California. I was accused of stealing a $100 television set.. but I never stole the television set! I was an employee in the retail store. The people who worked a the company had a camera picture of me with the television set and two older women. These women walked out of the store without paying for the television set. I was so stupid at the time because I didn't get a credit card number, get a receipt, or ask for cash.. I didn't even know this until I was called to the conference room and they explained the situation to me. So the people interrogating me assumed that I was working with these two women and that I was in on the theft. I have never met those two women. I also signed a paper and wrote on my statement I don't know who those two women are but the person in the room told me that I have to write "oh you have to write that you knew what happened.. etc." I asked him if I didn't want to sign and he said, "we can take this court." I felt like I had to sign so I did. I even paid the $100.

I didn't know I had a record (I thought it was just probation since I was only on the job for 2 weeks and the item cost $100) until recently when I tried to apply for a job and they said I had criminal record and they could not hire me. This was my first job at a cashier in the electronics department, and first two weeks I was already fired.

I then tried to apply for nursing school and I have to take the CNA program. They won't take me as long as I have a record on my background check.

This is very difficult for me as I need to get a job to pay for college as well. I don't know any entry level jobs that don't have cashier/personal information involved.

Is there a case? Is it possible for me to change the misdemeanor to an infraction or get the record dropped/cleared? Please help.

[Security Consultant]

Maybe this article will help. This is not an endorsement of the attorney who wrote the article.

All you have to do is Google "california expungement"

[PandorasBox]

I'd get an appointment with a lawyer.