My question involves criminal law for the state of: Colorado
I was caught shoplifting today. I honestly don't know what I was thinking. I am a good girl and made the biggest mistake of my life. I have learned my lesson and am so deeply sorry, believe me.
My first question is this: My court date is Sept. 21st. I leave for college (4 hours away) in 3 weeks, so this means I would have to drive 4 hours to go to court. Is there any way I could call, explain my situation, and maybe get the court date changed to during a holiday break or possibly even before I leave for college? I also plan to plead completely guilty to the shoplifting.
My other question is how much will my fine be? On my citation ticket it says theft:under $100. The thing I stole was $25. Any guesses how much my fine will be? Also, the police officer said the store manager is pressing charges.
Please Please help me. I am so so scared. I feel awful and with NEVER EVER do ANYTHING like this again

What makes you think there will be a fine? You could (though unlikely) get jail time up to 6 months. More likely the court will sentence you to community service. A class 3 misdemeanor in CO carries a fine of up to $50 and/or up to 6 months in jail.

You should get an attorney who can see about getting your court date changed. Otherwise you have to call the court clerk for the procedure of getting a postponement.

Back to a fine, some stores charge a civil fine for shoplifting. In CO this is $100-$250.

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Originally Posted by elwhite2

... My other question is how much will my fine be? On my citation ticket it says theft:under $100. The thing I stole was $25. Any guesses how much my fine will be? Also, the police officer said the store manager is pressing charges. ...

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Just to be clear, "theft: under $100" means that the value of what you took was less than $100 ($25 in your case). It isn't meant to suggest what the punishment will be. The punishment can be, as ScottGem has said, a fine and perhaps jail.

What does the fact that the manager is "pressing charges" have to do with your question?

Write a letter (on paper) to the store offering to pay court fees and additional civil penalties if they will drop the case. Say you are leaving for college and vow to never set foot in that store again (forget the 'I'll never shoplift again.')
Also ask the court for a different date, but earlier probably isn't possible. Meanwhile the store might be willing to take a fine instead of going to court. Many big box stores do that, but they charge a lot.

Yes, there will be for sure community service to do, and you will be lucky if they let you transfer that to the other location. If this is within the same state, it will be easier. Most likley you will be put on probation.

You need an attorney since NO you do not want to plead guilty, You want your attorney to work out a plea bargain so that you can get a first offender program, that this will not show up on your record after you do the probation, pay the fines and do the community service

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Originally Posted by elwhite2

My first question is this: My court date is Sept. 21st. I leave for college (4 hours away) in 3 weeks, so this means I would have to drive 4 hours to go to court. Is there any way I could call, explain my situation, and maybe get the court date changed to during a holiday break or possibly even before I leave for college?

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My concern is that you stole - a not as nice phrase as "shoplifted" - and you don't want to be inconvenienced by having to drive 4 hours to go to Court?

You could be sitting in jail right now - instead you got a ticket to appear at a future date.

Everyone else has covered the fine, penalty, why not to plead guilty.