theftstudent
Sep 23, 2013, 05:04 PM
First off, I want to say that my story is very unusual, but just wanted to let people know that sometimes situations like mine occur. I also have a question at the end of this post. (For those willing to answer my question can skip to the end of the post).
A few weeks ago, I was caught shoplifting at the Bay with a value of about $1200.
I was stopped by three plain clothes LP officers. They took me to the back, and I was cooperative and remorseful. I remember them saying, "Holy ****" when they saw the shears and the hammer I had in my bag used to remove the security tags.
Anyway, I told the LP guy that my future plan was to become a doctor, I had good grades in school, this was my first offence, etc. He told me that it wasn't personal, but he had to call the police. The police officer gave me a notice to appear and left.
The LP officer than told me he would walk me out, and before leaving said, "listen, you're too smart to be doing this. I've caught alot of guys, and this isn't for you. Go to court dressed nicely, you have a very good chance of just getting a slap on the wrist." (By the way I am not trying to make excuses to people on the internet; I am just telling a story).
So, I am scared to death and go into a little depression for the next few days. I call as many lawyers as I can for a free consultation. One lawyer told me he would charge me $3250, and told me to expect the case to take up until maybe even December to be resolved. Another lawyer asked me for only $850, and assured me I won't be getting a criminal record. He also told me this would take only six weeks to resolve. I went with the second lawyer.
Up until today, I've pulled all-nighters trying to find past cases that were similar to my case, and I couldn't do so. All I could find was that the value I took was substantial, and the use of tools was also an aggravating factor.
Tomorrow would have been my fingerprinting date, but today I received a text message from the police officer who charged me. He wrote that the charges have been dropped, and that he wanted me to call him back. I call him back, and he tells me that I am going to a good school, and I am from a good neighbourhood. I should stay out of trouble. Lastly, he tells me not to bother showing up to the police department tomorrow for fingerprinting and not to court either.
I am not going to say I was sorry for shoplifting because obviously no one is going to believe someone online anonymously saying so. Anyway my story is unique, and my lawyer told me that he has never seen a case being dropped like this before. I don't want anyone who has been charged with theft thinking the same thing will happen to them. I was VERY lucky. Honestly, I think it was the LP officer who felt sorry for me. I heard bits of what he told the police officer, and he said I was smart, remorseful, and cooperative.
SORRY FOR THE LONG POST, now my question is:
I don't need to go get fingerprinted, so if I do a vulnerable sector check in the future, will a withdrawn theft under 5000 charge be shown? Also, will this affect possible plans to travel to the States/ Will this charge be stored in the CPIC?
Thank you in advance to anyone who answers my question and to anyone who actually read this whole thing! :)
A few weeks ago, I was caught shoplifting at the Bay with a value of about $1200.
I was stopped by three plain clothes LP officers. They took me to the back, and I was cooperative and remorseful. I remember them saying, "Holy ****" when they saw the shears and the hammer I had in my bag used to remove the security tags.
Anyway, I told the LP guy that my future plan was to become a doctor, I had good grades in school, this was my first offence, etc. He told me that it wasn't personal, but he had to call the police. The police officer gave me a notice to appear and left.
The LP officer than told me he would walk me out, and before leaving said, "listen, you're too smart to be doing this. I've caught alot of guys, and this isn't for you. Go to court dressed nicely, you have a very good chance of just getting a slap on the wrist." (By the way I am not trying to make excuses to people on the internet; I am just telling a story).
So, I am scared to death and go into a little depression for the next few days. I call as many lawyers as I can for a free consultation. One lawyer told me he would charge me $3250, and told me to expect the case to take up until maybe even December to be resolved. Another lawyer asked me for only $850, and assured me I won't be getting a criminal record. He also told me this would take only six weeks to resolve. I went with the second lawyer.
Up until today, I've pulled all-nighters trying to find past cases that were similar to my case, and I couldn't do so. All I could find was that the value I took was substantial, and the use of tools was also an aggravating factor.
Tomorrow would have been my fingerprinting date, but today I received a text message from the police officer who charged me. He wrote that the charges have been dropped, and that he wanted me to call him back. I call him back, and he tells me that I am going to a good school, and I am from a good neighbourhood. I should stay out of trouble. Lastly, he tells me not to bother showing up to the police department tomorrow for fingerprinting and not to court either.
I am not going to say I was sorry for shoplifting because obviously no one is going to believe someone online anonymously saying so. Anyway my story is unique, and my lawyer told me that he has never seen a case being dropped like this before. I don't want anyone who has been charged with theft thinking the same thing will happen to them. I was VERY lucky. Honestly, I think it was the LP officer who felt sorry for me. I heard bits of what he told the police officer, and he said I was smart, remorseful, and cooperative.
SORRY FOR THE LONG POST, now my question is:
I don't need to go get fingerprinted, so if I do a vulnerable sector check in the future, will a withdrawn theft under 5000 charge be shown? Also, will this affect possible plans to travel to the States/ Will this charge be stored in the CPIC?
Thank you in advance to anyone who answers my question and to anyone who actually read this whole thing! :)