My question involves criminal law for the state of: North Carolina.
My daughter entered Walmart with a bag containing blinds I had purchased for her with cash. She did not have the receipt with her. The reason for taking it in was to compare colors for window treatments. She took the blinds out to compare, and put them back. She was detained by loss prevention who then took her into the office to interrogate her. They took down her information. After the loss prevention person humiliated and frightened her, the store manager said he believed her and let her go. No police, no signatures, nothing else.
I received a letter from a law firm representing Walmart regarding a civil claim against her, asking her to pay $150. She called the store asking what happened, and they said they had no record of it, and the loss prevention person must have filed it with corporate. What do we do now? I can't find the receipt to prove I bought it. If we pay the fine, does that admit guilt and open her up for criminal charges in the future? I am not sure I want to go to court because this could get costly. I am getting conflicting advice. Please help.

