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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Posts
    3

    Default Charged with Petty Theft After Shoplifting

    My question involves criminal law for the state of: California
    2 days ago I was arrested for petty theft pc488. I was caught stealing from Target and I am an employee there. The total amount that I stole was 450 dollars. I was brought into a room and was question, there I confess and sign an agreement to pay them back. The police came and arrested me and brought me to the station. The police took my picture and fingerprinted me. I received a ticket that says pc 488 with midemanor circled. At the bottom of the ticket, it says i have to appear in court on 05-12-2010.

    Im 20 yrs old and in college. I made a stupid mistake and regret what I have done. Im short in money and don't know what to do next. I dont really have money for a lawyer so how do I get a public defender? What should I plea? Is there anyway to erase this since it is my first time offense? What do I do in court?

    Thank You for reading this and any help is grateful.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Posts
    217

    Default Re: Charged with Petty Theft After Shoplifting

    Unfortunetly since u already confessed it will be hard to do much about it. Getting a good lawyer is really the only way to go if you want to get this sorted out

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Posts
    3

    Default Re: Charged with Petty Theft After Shoplifting

    I was caught on camera

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Posts
    217

    Default Re: Charged with Petty Theft After Shoplifting

    best evidence there is. I suppose you can ask for leniency or get a public defender since getting a good lawyer won't really make a difference since there is evidence and confession.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Posts
    3

    Default Re: Charged with Petty Theft After Shoplifting

    What do I do in court? What will the judge do? Will I go to jail? The officer said I was lucky because i signed a contract to pay Target back or otherwise I would have been in jail already. Im just lost and scared.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    6,808

    Default Re: Charged with Petty Theft After Shoplifting

    Go to your court date, which will be an Arraignment. Plea "Not Guilty" and ask for a Public Defender.

    You plea not guilty because (1) Plea guilty, you leave the judges hands tied as to your sentence. (2) You may be able to plea down to a lesser charge, to which you would plea guilty to that.

  7. #7

    Default Re: Charged with Petty Theft After Shoplifting

    I'm actually 17 and in texas and 17 is considered an adult...
    i was charged with 70 dollars at target too and that is a misdemeanor class b.
    you're lucky you didnt sit in jail... but what you need to do is.
    ask for a PRETRIAL DIVERSION
    you can loook it up and if you get a lawyer they will
    tell you to do the same thing it's a packet that you can
    go up to court and ask for guidelines and you wanna make
    sure you turn it in as soon as possible because the earlier the better
    if they do approve you for this you will be drugged tested
    and it costs alot of money but it will get off of your record
    if you finish this program!

    I have a lawyer and he says most first offenses will most likely clear
    so you dont really have to worryy but good luck!

  8. #8

    Default Re: Charged with Petty Theft After Shoplifting

    If you had read the OP's post - would have found that their court date was 5/12/2010.

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