Shoplifting charges
Hello
This is my story :
Yesterday evening I went to a supermarket and I bought a sandwich, a soda, a carspray, a loaf of bread and a cheesecake.
I went to my car and clipped a coupon from the cheesecake. That coupon was good for 2 $ and the discounted price of the cake was 1.99 so basically I got it for free. And I went back into the store to purchase another cheesecake with my new coupon. On my way I grabbed the bag where the soda and the sandwich was intending to eat them at a table in the store.
I realized that I did not had the receipt with me and I remembered that I left it in the cart. I went through a couple of carts looking for it and it was together with another 3 receipt. I scanned my items myself and when I took my receipt I took the ones that were from the previous customers. And put them in my cart. I looked about 2 minutes at the receipts trying to find mine. Outside were 2 guys that afterwards I realized that were store detectives. Now I know that are some guys that go after receipts outside the stores and go back and pick up the same items or go for a refund. They were sure that I am a shoplifter doing the trick and followed me throughout the store. I entered the store with my cart and I had the bag in the cart. It was small and maybe looked empty because the sandwich was in my pocket. I took some cookies and went to the isle with the cheesecakes. I left my cart before because it was too big and I intended not to buy anything else but the cheesecake. Eventually I took some cookies also. When I got to the Isle I took the cheesecake in my hand but it was frozen and too big and I put it into my bag intending to scan it and hand the coupon to the cashier and get it for free.
Waiting in line for paying I put my bag down and checked out a magazine. When my turn came I forgot about my bag , payd my cookies and left. I realized that I forgot the other bag. Came back into the store, I grab my bag and at the exit the 2 guys jumped me and drag me to the interwiew room.
I was puzzled, I had no ideea about what is going on. I never faced shoplifting charges and I had no idee what is happening. After they start questioning me I said that I have no ideea what I've done wrong and finally I remembered about the darn cheesecake that I put in my bag. It really looked bad and the guys were following me. I tried to explain that is a mistake. But they said that I stole the goods. I showed the receipt but they said that the receipt is not mine. I showed the credit card and they were puzzled for a moment and they said that it was a double. I don't now what is that , I understood that this means that I came back and stole the items that were already purchased. I invited to my car to show them the other bag and nothing else and refused to come . I appologized for the cheesecake I said that is ridiculous, that I have no intention to steal it. They said that they saw me putting the cake in my bag. I said OK that was my mistake , it was honest. But they charged me with stealing the other things THAT I PAID FOR!!
I said, OK, this is a mistake, I appologize for it and I will pay you the price. They said that what I did was robbery and called the police. I tried to plead my case to the police but they said that need to file a report and a citation. I said that this was a stupid mistake , I had a coupon for the item and I would get it for free anyway.
They said that this I will explain to the judge.
In the end : for all the items that I was charged with shoplifting I have a receipt. Maximally I accidentally left the store with a 2 $ cheesecake. I admit it.
I thought that the police will check my car and listen to my side of the story but they filled
the citation and left.
The citation is for theft by deception. I did not admitted any intent, did not signed any declaration admitting to stealing the goods. It is a 9.41 value. I just appologized for the cake and said that is an error. I tried to say that I'm a student, that I'm going to hard times and I can't afford to stand trial or pay an attorney. The police said that must file charges.
Now my questions are : what to do now ?
Do I need a lawyer? I am not guilty and I'm going to plead not guilty. If I am pleading not guilty and bring my receipts and credit card to prove my innocence will this work ? All the allegedly stolen goods are on my receipt! I had nothing unpaid concealed or hidden , I just forgot to scan the damn cake and hand the darn coupon. That's all.
Will a lawyer maximize my chances for the case to be dismissed ?
The case can be dismissed from the beginning or a not guilty plea will automatically mean that I need to stand trial with jury.
I have no record whatsoever not even a parking ticket.
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