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Angela123 · May 18, 2007, 11:20 AM

I'm thinking I'm going to go to court for this. No charges have been made as of yet. I am a 19 year old female, with no prior record.

I stole the money by refunding it to my bank card at a place I used to work. I am willing to make restitution, and I do regret doing it. There was a prior history with the employer of discrimination which I did not file charges about. This has all happened in the past 6 months.

I was not charged with theft under 5000 when I was 15 because it was a crime of passion, and I paid full restitution on time.

Based on this information, I was just wondering what kind of sentence you think I'm looking at? I know I'll probably have to pay restitution.
Probation?
House arrest?
Jail time?

Thanks for you help. I'm really stressed out.

EDIT: I live in Alberta Canada

Angela123 · May 18, 2007, 12:55 PM

They just called my mom and told her to come down for a private meeting. I have moved away from the town that this all occurred in, and she still lives there.

Why would they be contacting family members before the contact me? Is that legal? Does it mean they don't have anything?

Lowtax4eva · May 18, 2007, 01:00 PM

I'm pretty sure they are contacting her to find out where you are, they may want to offer to settle this out of court. If they wanted to press charges it would be the police calling your mom to find out about where you are.

Or by "them" did you meant the police?

Angela123 · May 18, 2007, 01:05 PM

They know where I am. They have my phone number, address and everything.
By they I mean the previous employer.

I just think it's strange that they didn't come to me first. I also think it's wrong. My mom has nothing to do with this. I am an adult, and I feel it's uncalled for.

Lowtax4eva · May 18, 2007, 01:12 PM

Well what have they done so far? they must have noticed the missing funds and done something for you to be worried

Angela123 · May 18, 2007, 01:16 PM

Nope. They haven't even done anything to contact me. The only reason I have to suspect this is what's going on is my guilt, and because my mom called me and told me about this "meeting" with my former boss.

He wouldn't tell her what it was about, just said it was confidencial.

Fr_Chuck · May 18, 2007, 01:17 PM

A store or private investigator or the police may question anyone about theft, this is not like a debt where your privacy is protected nor is it like you are a minor and have rights to have identity keep private,
They may ask her what she knows about your theft, about things you havve bought. They may ask her to ID you on photos of you stealing as evidence it is you. Or they may ask yoiur mom if she wants to pay this back for you, ( esp if your family is well off) Rich mom and dads paying off stores for things their kids do is very common.

Your prior "problem" if found should be able to be used in sentencing, and it may depend if the store attempts to charge you with one crime or a series of separate crimes

Angela123 · May 18, 2007, 01:29 PM

I understand that I don't have the right to privacy right now. What I don't understand is how my previous minor offence could be used in this case.

Anyway. My original question is what kind of sentence am I looking at? Any ideas?

excon · May 18, 2007, 03:07 PM

Hello Angela:

Things are not quite that simple. There are lots of factors that go into sentencing, not the least of which is the crime you're charged with. I know you stole $10,000, but they might say it was $100,000. There are lots of if's and unknowns at this juncture. One of the biggest factors in your sentence will be the quality of your lawyer. That's something you do have control over right now. I would hire one immediately. I would ask my mother to delay her meeting till after you hire an attorney.

I get the feeling you don't think much will happen to you, so you don't appear to be worried. Having faced similar circumstances, I would be very worried, if I were you.

excon

Angela123 · May 18, 2007, 04:21 PM

Well it's too late to tell her not to go. She already did. Aparently they think it's more like 25,000.00. So I agree. I'm going to call a lawyer on Monday.

Fr_Chuck · May 18, 2007, 05:11 PM

The other offense, although tech sealed for a juv ( unless you were tried as a adult) noramlly these things can not be used in the trial to prove prior acts. But when it come to sentencing, they look at home life, jobs everything.

Angela123 · May 19, 2007, 11:05 AM

Am I going to get arrested on the spot when I get served? Is that mandatory?

Fr_Chuck · May 19, 2007, 11:56 AM

If they are merely filing a civil suit you are not arrested,

If the government files criminal charges, the answer is maybe, sometimes they will give date to report, Esp if you have an attorney and are working out to turn yourself in.

Angela123 · May 19, 2007, 11:58 AM

Should I go down there and turn myself in now?

excon · May 19, 2007, 12:02 PM

Hello again, Angela:

Arrested is a technical term meaning you've been notified of the charges against you. That is the beginning of a long process, and that's going to happen to you. You will be photographed and fingerprinted at the jail. Will they keep you there?? As things stand now, I believe they will.

In my view, the only way to avoid incarceration at the jail is to hire a lawyer who will arrange for a self surrender. You may or may not have to post a bail. Since you self surrendered, I would guess that you won't.

If you don't hire a lawyer to intervene on your behalf, of course the cops will take you to jail.

excon

Fr_Chuck · May 19, 2007, 01:42 PM

Without looking back, I believe you are in Canada, they do often on some levels of crimes give you a date to come down to be fingerprinted and photographed, If you are sure you are going to be arrested, got get the attorney first, and work out and figure how you are going to get bail arranged if you can before you do anything else. And if they have a warrant for you, the attorney as excon and myself already mentioned will arrange a date to turn yourself in,