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shameless · Jun 14, 2008, 11:13 AM

I was recently caught stealing at a walmart store. I had taken a hairdryer and 3 bras and put them under the fence in the garden center. I then proceeded through the store outside to go retrieve the items. Once I got the bras into my purse I realized I wanted to take them back out but it was too late the security came up to me opened my purse and took all the items out and directed me back into the store. I might add I shamefully had my children with me. This was my first offence and walmart didn't want to press charges but said they had to call the police. The police said if I didn't have my kids with me I would have been let off. I am very asshamed and don't do this type of thing. I just wasn't hinking clearly after a very hectic morning. I have an attourney but what are mt chances of not having to face the courts? This is a nightmare that I just want ended. Someone please give me some advice.

Fr_Chuck · Jun 14, 2008, 11:18 AM

If you don't want to go to court, have your attorney work out a plea agreement for you.

JimGunther · Jul 4, 2008, 11:54 PM

Even if you have a plea agreement worked out, you will have to make the plea in court. I've had a lot of hectic mornings in my life, but would never do anything like that as a result. I wouldn't advise you to make a statement like that to the judge.

Once you are charged, the stores do not like to drop the charges and in my state (MD), where I spent 13 years in retail security, it is up to the prosecutor as to whether the charges will be dropped or not, so you can pretty much expect to go to court.

If it was your first offense, though you cannot likely avoid going to court, you could quite likely avoid a conviction. There are various options, depending on your state, that allow you to plead guilty, do some community service or probation, or both, and then be allowed by the court to not have a conviction entered on your record. In my state is called PBJ-probation before judgement. Ask your attorney about it and don't get involved in this kind of stuff again-its not worth the amount of grief you can get yourself into!