[shockedgirl]

Hello everyone,

I need some accurate legal advice, please. I am shocked, confused and very depressed. I was charged with fraud under 5000, on May 14th. I live in Toronto, Canada. In a nutshell, I was with my mother's friend at a clothing store, and my mother's friend was caught switching price tags. I did NOT alter or switch any price tags, and I had NO knowledge that she was doing it. I was just there, actually to give back some money to my mother's friend, that my mom owed to her, and I helped her to carry out the shopping bag from the store. She is an older lady, and I had no idea she was doing any of this. She already paid for the items, and to my shock and disbelief, two security guards stopped us at the exit, and asked us to go at the back of the store. They questioned my mom's friend, and she denied that she was swiching the tags at the store, but they told her that there is a videotape of her doing it. They called the police and I could not believe what was happening to me, I was arrested, handcuffed and taken to the police station. They never told me what I was charged with, before they took me into the station, and I kept saying to the police that I just came to meet my mom's friend and I did not know what she was doing and I did not do anything criminal. The police told me to shut up, and he also told me that I am annoying him. He was very scary, like a monster. He told me I will be spending the long weekend in jail. I had an anxiety attack, and the ambulance was called. I do suffer from anxiety attacks and take medication for it. Later, when the ambulance left, the police told me that I was faking my anxiety attack, just to get out of this situation, but I kept saying I did not do anything and I do not know why I am here. The police officer, the monster, was a complete a.. I am having nightmares about the whole experience. He also made fun of my mom's friend because she is unable to speak perfect english. I was charged with fraud under 5000, fingerprinted and photographed. I felt like this whole thing is not happening to me, but it did. He treated me like a criminal, and he accused me that I was helping my mom's friend to switch the tags, and I knew what she was doing. These are all lies and all I did was help her to carry out the bag from the store, after she already paid for the merchandise, because I wanted to be helpful, because she is almost 70 years old. I cannot believe it is happening to me, I had no idea she was doing this.

I do not know how and where I can complain regarding the conduct of the police officer, the monster, because my handcuff was so tight that it hurt my wrist, and left a black mark and even when I was taken to the police station, and escorted into a little room, the handcuffs were not taken off for more than around 40 minutes. I was detained at the police station for almost 7 hours, just put into a little room, waiting, without any food or water. Also they gave me this condition that I cannot leave Ontario, and I need to go to Quebec for a school interview. All lawyers told me that this was a very harsh condition, and that the police was unreasonable. How can I lift this condition?
I was frantic and shocked and the next day I contacted at least 10 lawyers over the phone for a free consultation, but they all told me they cannot do anything before they do not see the disclosure. The first date is July 8th, that is when disclosure will takes place.
Is there anything I can do before disclosure, for the charges to be dropped?
Also, some lawyers told me that I probably will need to accept responsibility, not guilt, in order to qualify for the diversion program,( in order for the charged to be withdrawn), but how can I accept responsibility when I did not know that a crime is being committed and I did not do it. I am very very confused and going crazy. I was never arrested or charged with a crime before, have a clear record.
I also want would like to know how can I request for my fingerprints and photos to be removed, because I am innocent, and never had any problem with the police.
Please help!
Thank you so much

[excon]

Hello girl:

Hire a lawyer - one who doesn't want you to lay down.

excon

[tamilguy]

What happened with your case? Obviously if you can get a good criminal lawyer, you can plead not guilty and win the case. Very easy case.