My question involves criminal law for the state of: Virginia
First of all, some information about me:
**I have adult ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), which I usually take medication for.
**Before this incident which I am about to describe, I have never been arrested.
**I have never been convicted of any crimes, other than minor traffic offenses.
Yesterday, I went shopping at a large chain grocery store.
I got distracted because I had forgotten to take my medication that day, and I forgot to pay for the items in my cart before exiting the store.
The items were openly displayed in my shopping cart.
The security guard followed me into the parking lot as I left the store, and when I got to my vehicle, he asked me to come inside the store because he wanted to talk with me.
I then realized that I had forgotten to pay for the items, and said I was sorry that I forgotten to pay for them, and said I would be happy to go inside the store and pay for them (I had more than enough money to do so).
He put his hand on my shoulder, and told me "Don't try to run, or it will make it worse."
He said they had me on security cameras when I exited without paying.
I was extremely upset, but I cooperated and went back in the store with him.
Store staff would not let me make a phone call.
I repeatedly told staff throughout this whole incident that I would pay for the items, and had not intended to steal them.
They questioned me for awhile, and then called police.
Two police officers showed up and also questioned me, without reading me any of my rights.
They confirmed that I had no criminal record, but they still arrested me and took me to the police station for "processing."
I was charged with grand larceny, because of the dollar amount, and given a pre-trial date and a court date.
The magistrate let me go without bail because I had no prior criminal record, but I am mortified and terrified.
Did the store security guard or the police officers do anything incorrectly, and did they have probable cause to detain me or charge me with shoplifting if I didn't conceal the merchandise, and had plenty of money to pay for it, and had no intent to steal it?
Am I likely to receive any jail time??![]()

