View Full Version : What should I do if I stole from employer by mistake?
mkara33
Jul 11, 2011, 08:29 PM
Hi. I work for a big company. This year has been tough. I had a new manager come in that I didn't really get along with. I nearly had a nervous breakdown and then in April my dad had a stroke. I was checking my credit card on three separate occasions to see if I had credit on the machines at work. Not realizing it had been declined I reversed it, as bizarre as it sounds this is exactly what happened. I felt I was now pressured into confessing and unfortunately the evidence is stacked against me. I have worked for the company for 12 years would never steal anything especially using my name to do it. I know how this company works they have a fair call number to contact if someone is doing the wrong thing. They also check in the background so can see every move you make the amount taken was 150 dollars all paid back and apology given. I am now facing the courts. I'm scared as I feel to plead not guilty will make me have to give evidence and the explanation I give, as bizarre as it sounds, is the truth. I never checked my paperwork properly. I have had so much on my mind I did keep with my reports at work, the declined and reversal slips. This was just me being ignorant and not checking what I was doing. I feel like killing myself, as I didn't mean for this to happen.
Fr_Chuck
Jul 11, 2011, 08:37 PM
Ok, we feel sorry for you, but do you have a question ?
1. you confessed ? To who, just the store, to the police ? Was the confession in writing ?
2. it is not forced, and both police or store can pressure or even trick and lie to get you to confess.
3. The fact you paid it back is good,
4. It sounds like you don't have an attorney, so you need to plead not guilty and get a public defender appointed to help you. At least make a plea agreement
Most likely you will get probation
mkara33
Jul 11, 2011, 08:47 PM
Thank you I confessed to my employer in writing, I initial wrote the truth, but felt it would get me nowhere because I initial told them the truth to begin with and they wouldn't hear it. My loss prevention officer stood up and said if you don't confess I'm calling the police the police came the next day, as I had a meeting with my employer, I explained I hadn't realized it was declined and reversed it, I have had a lot of things on my mind and a really made a mistake. I have an attorney, I just want this resolved as quickly as possible, I have been introuble before about 20 years ago for taking a magazine from work without paying for it. I am a good person and seem to have trouble follow me, yes I took the money but it has been a misunderstanding, I can't go on, I have now found another job in the same industry, these 2 companies hate each other because the company I work for has had a lot of people resign to go to the other company. Im scared of going to jail, as this would kill my whole family and I won't survive in jail.
mkara33
Jul 11, 2011, 09:25 PM
I'm sorry I'm new to this and don't mean to waste peoples time. I'm just so silly for the mistake I made and can't get my head around it, I'm not making excuses, bottom line it was taken, its just a really sad way for me to leave a company I have worked hard for.
AK lawyer
Jul 12, 2011, 06:02 AM
... I have an attorney, i just want this resolved as quickly as possible, ...
No, you want it resolved in your favor. If it takes a while, that's OK, or at least a lot better than a conviction on your record. If, as you say, you had no criminal intent, do not throw in the towel just for a quick resolution.
I am a bit unclear about exactly what you did. You say that you were "checking [your] credit card on three separate occasions to see if [you] had credit on the machines at work. Not realizing it had been declined [you] reversed it".
So how did this work? You ran each of three cards, as though you were making a purchase? And then, when the card was declined, what do you mean that you reversed it? You were given a credit or cash?
mkara33
Jul 12, 2011, 06:09 AM
Swiped my credit card didn't have cash needed to buy something swiped it and neglected to see declined, was distracted as I was doing at the front counter and then reversed it back into my account, I will never forget this, because it was a mistake, I have had a lot of things on my mind no excuse just the truth. My employers don't believe me and neither would I, its too bizarre, but it is the truth, I don't want to be cross examined I know how these prosecutors can be to get there conviction, I'm very quiet and shy and they will eat me up alive.
AK lawyer
Jul 12, 2011, 06:45 AM
... i dont want to be cross examined i know how these prosecutors can be to get there conviction, im very quiet and shy and they will jst eat me up alive.
Spending time in jail, or dealing with the difficulties involved with a conviction on your record, would eat you up inside too.
I get confused, from the customer's side of the counter, every day.
"Let me see: cash or credit? Ok, do I press the red button or the green one? Oh, sorry, forgot to press 'OK'."
It's easy to get distracted and not pay attention to those trivial tasks.
Personally, if I were on the jury, I could very well believe you.
If this goes to trial, your attorney should consider bringing the machine into court and having you demonstrate exactly how the mistakes occurred.
Then there is the question as to why you swiped the card three times. I know you were distracted, but the jury is going to want a reasonable expanation for that, enough to establish reasonable doubt.
excon
Jul 13, 2011, 09:45 AM
i know how these prosecutors can be to get there conviction, im very quiet and shy and they will jst eat me up alive.Hello m:
You seem to know stuff, that you couldn't possibly know, and you're apparently going to make important decisions about your future based on those WRONG assumptions...
That doesn't bode well for you... As a matter of fact, that's just plain DUMB! I suggest you STOP talking about stuff you know NOTHING about and let the people who WANT to help you, do their job.
excon
mkara33
Jul 19, 2011, 07:05 AM
Thank you I am just stupid and feel hopeless. I know I know nothing about this stuff I'm just a nervous reck and not good at getting my point across where its here or on the stand. I will just see what happens the fact remains I did something without looking at the paperwork just living in dreamland, I need to grow up and stop living with the fairies.