I am a us citizen and was accused of shoplifting in bloomingdales and approached in the doorway as I was leaving the department store but not the mall. The retail price ($350) will fall under a felony charge, but since this is my first arrest, they said it was dropped to a misdemeanor. I spent 5 hrs in jail and then they let me out because I signed something saying I would show up in court. The police officer told me I didn't need a lawyer and to just show up in court. He said I would have to take a class and do some community service. 1.) Do I need a lawyer? I did talk to one on the phone and he said he would do the whole case for $1000. It seems very high. 2.) Or do I just need a Public Defender? 3. What will the charge be if I don't have a lawyer or a PD? 4.) Will it help to have a lawyer? 5.) What will the court costs be? 6.) I already received a $500 bill in the mail from loss prevention and I paid it. The lawyer said I should have not paid it. Should I have not paid it? 7.) The police officer also told me that it could be expunged. Is this correct?