My question involves criminal law for the state of: North Carolina
Hi, I went to shopping at Belk and was accused of shoplifting. It was a honest mistake but it happened. I picked up couple of items for purchase and would have paid and left but the cashier ringed one and told me that the other item needed to be ringed by the person who showed it to me. So I ended up going inwards in store again and thought about spending some more time shopping to feel better. I had been sick all week and looked horrible. So I purchased those items and went on, liked a expensive jewellery item on sale and bought it. Since I already had plastic bags the sales lady gave me a huge paper bag to help me with all the items which ended up being the devil for me. It was a big purchase so I got a store card to save extra 15%. Once I got that I again got the thought that why not purchase other items that I wanted and get extra 15% on them as well. Ended up looking for multiple items so basically I was trying a lot of stuff especially that was marked down. This store has some good marked down items towards the back side. So with a bag, and handful of jewellery and wanting to look at purses I just put the jewellery in the bag and then put the rest of the items as well which I needed few minutes to decide but was tired so kept moving on... I am indecisive. I did it very openly because I did not know at that time that it is considered concealing. At one point I took everything out to try from the bag but one purse as I wanted that. Spent lot of time trying jewellery and forgot about the purse and then purchased the jewellery. I got a phone call as I was at the counter, didn't take it as I had to talk important stuff. Got distracted and started thinking about the call and called back as soon as I got off the counter, and kept lingering in the store to finish the call. As I was finishing the call and looking for the exit door and ready to head out, the store manager came to open the door for me and then stopped me. And then the security person came and they called police. The officer gave me a ticket. I am on H-1 which is up for renewal in couple of months. This was a completely innocent mistake, I am absent minded and landed into trouble. Purchased items more than $500 that day but missed that $21 purse on sale. I am not guilty, what should I do? This can wreck my career and whole life direction. Please help. Does Belk have zero tolerance policy or will they listen to drop the charges if I try to explain to them again.

