I was caught charging groceries to my employers charge account at our local co-op and am being charged eith theft under $5000. The total cost of groceries charged was $3600 over a course of 4 months. I started doing it because we were very hard off and my babies needed to be fed. My intention was never to hurt my boss and I feel terrible. I have full intentions of paying back every penny. What am I looking at here as this is my first offence with a completely clean record. I don't want this to ruin my life and in a small community it counld as I may not get hired to another job and I don't want a criminal record... I feel terrible for what I have done.

Why you did it is going to matter very little. One of the concern is that the stealing continued over a period and was not a one-time event. You also apparently didn't simply stop; you were caught.

You mention under $5,000, which sounds like Canada. Employer theft is taken far more seriously than, for example, shoplifting. You might be eligible for the diversion program but it's my understanding that this program is not offered when it's theft from an employer.

I would get a very good Attorney.

Ugh... so there is no hope for me basically?

You don't know until you get to Court but I think an Attorney could make a big difference in the outcome.

The charges, of course, are serious and you don't want this following you around for the rest of your life.