I'm a 20ish college student
I was apprehended in a grocery because their LP saw me putting items into my purse. I was very polite and compliant when she took my information and tallied up the damage (Third Degree Retail Fraud: $50.00 in food items) A police officer was called and I wasn't put in cuffs but I was read my rights and given a court date.
After a free 30 minute consultation with a local defense attorney I was instructed to plead "Not Guilty", so I did. He also told me that due to my situation I probably wouldn't need to hire my own defense ($500.00 I do not have) b/c the court appointed lawyer has probably done many of these cases. After my plea I was given a second notice to appear in court in a few weeks and I'm wondering what I should do to prepare for this?
My actions were inexcusable, but these are the circumstances surrounding my brief lapse in judgment. I was unemployed and was not fully aware of the public assistance programs there are for people in my situation. I was under the wrong impression that state assistance was for families with young children (I was thinking WIC, but now I know there are other options for unemployed adults too) We barely had $30 to our names so I was desperate and took food items for us to eat that day. This was wrong, and I will never do it again. However, I have a clean record and would like the opportunity to go to a diversion program or pay fines instead of having this ugly permanent charge (I'm in graduate school and a criminal charge could really mess up my chances of getting a good job someday)
I have since been trying to go in a better direction. I applied for Food Assistance and after months of searching I finally got a new job and I start next week! I will bring in the documentation to verify these changes to my life, do you think it will help? Will I have to say anything, if so, should I have a prepared statement? I'm really trying to avoid the permanent charge, but I also want the judge to know my situation without sounding like I'm making excuses. Any advice?
I was apprehended in a grocery because their LP saw me putting items into my purse. I was very polite and compliant when she took my information and tallied up the damage (Third Degree Retail Fraud: $50.00 in food items) A police officer was called and I wasn't put in cuffs but I was read my rights and given a court date.
After a free 30 minute consultation with a local defense attorney I was instructed to plead "Not Guilty", so I did. He also told me that due to my situation I probably wouldn't need to hire my own defense ($500.00 I do not have) b/c the court appointed lawyer has probably done many of these cases. After my plea I was given a second notice to appear in court in a few weeks and I'm wondering what I should do to prepare for this?
My actions were inexcusable, but these are the circumstances surrounding my brief lapse in judgment. I was unemployed and was not fully aware of the public assistance programs there are for people in my situation. I was under the wrong impression that state assistance was for families with young children (I was thinking WIC, but now I know there are other options for unemployed adults too) We barely had $30 to our names so I was desperate and took food items for us to eat that day. This was wrong, and I will never do it again. However, I have a clean record and would like the opportunity to go to a diversion program or pay fines instead of having this ugly permanent charge (I'm in graduate school and a criminal charge could really mess up my chances of getting a good job someday)
I have since been trying to go in a better direction. I applied for Food Assistance and after months of searching I finally got a new job and I start next week! I will bring in the documentation to verify these changes to my life, do you think it will help? Will I have to say anything, if so, should I have a prepared statement? I'm really trying to avoid the permanent charge, but I also want the judge to know my situation without sounding like I'm making excuses. Any advice?
