My question involves criminal law for the state of: Wisconsin
First off, I am 19 years old. I am from Wisconsin and I go to college in a different city than where I am from. I am transferring to a different school next semester in an entirely different city.
On Saturday, I was arrested for shoplifting. I was given a paper from the store banning me for a year and paid them a $250 civil restitution charge. I signed another form from the mall, banning me for three years. I had items from two other stores, however all the items together were less than $100 in value. Both the other stores plan to press charges. I was required to give a statement to the police.
I have no prior record at all, not even a speeding ticket. I've been doing my research, and I know I should not plead guilty, especially to three counts of retail theft. However, if I already gave a statement, does that screw me over?
I plan on calling a lawyer in order to talk over my options. I know everyone says this, but I am a good kid, I am in good academic standing and everything. I am very involved in my school life right now, and I have never in my life done something like this. I cannot afford to hire an attorney, so a Public Defender will have to do. I do not want to drag this out to be much longer than it needs to be, though, so I can start over fresh at my new school.
Also, can they force me to stay in the county that I am in for school because of this?
One more thing--I know it won't hold up in court, but I have just started taking medication for depression, as diagnosed by a campus psychiatrist.
I am supposed to go to the police department an hour before my court to be fingerprinted and get my mugshots taken. Why didn't they do this right away?

