My question involves criminal law for the state of: California
At the end of August I was caught shoplifting at the local Target store. I had removed a mp3 to car adapter ($29.95) from its packaging and put it in my pocket. Security grabbed me as I walked out of the store. I realize I made the stupidest decision of my life. I had just finished paying tuition and had bought $350 worth of textbooks so i was essentially broke (I'm 21 years old by the way). Anyways, they took me to a back room for about 30 minutes and took down all my information and asked me a series of question such as why I took the product. I told them I had a clean record and that this was my first time shoplifting, that I was a college student, a state employee, and had been involved in previous volunteer programs in and out of the country. I signed a paper acknowledging that I was banned from the store due to shoplifting. They informed me they weren't going to contact the police seeing as I had no prior record and am so close to graduating. They told me I would receive a letter from the department headquarters with a bill I would have to pay. I have been reading through the forums about civil demands and the possibilities of a court hearing. 4 weeks later I received the demand which asked for $500 dollars and included the standard disclaimer saying that payment of this was not an exemption from possible criminal prosecution. I immediately called some family members and got some loans. I submitted a check in the mail the day after I got the letter. None of this has surprised me all that much on account of what I have read, and what I have been told by the target employees. The last thing they told me before they let me go was that it was absolutely crucial that I pay the civil demand, and that if I didn't within in three weeks, then they would have no choice but to file a report to law enforcement for a warrant. They said this several times, I assume to scare me into paying the large demand. It worked. My question for all of you is what is the likelihood of receiving a court date in the mail? I understand the DA's office must approve the report from target, and that they can still sue me over damages. For the amount of $29.95, what kind of damage fines would I be looking at, and would it be significant enough for target to pursue through the court even after receiving 500 dollars from me through the civil demand? any response is much appreciated; i'm completely stressed out.
At the end of August I was caught shoplifting at the local Target store. I had removed a mp3 to car adapter ($29.95) from its packaging and put it in my pocket. Security grabbed me as I walked out of the store. I realize I made the stupidest decision of my life. I had just finished paying tuition and had bought $350 worth of textbooks so i was essentially broke (I'm 21 years old by the way). Anyways, they took me to a back room for about 30 minutes and took down all my information and asked me a series of question such as why I took the product. I told them I had a clean record and that this was my first time shoplifting, that I was a college student, a state employee, and had been involved in previous volunteer programs in and out of the country. I signed a paper acknowledging that I was banned from the store due to shoplifting. They informed me they weren't going to contact the police seeing as I had no prior record and am so close to graduating. They told me I would receive a letter from the department headquarters with a bill I would have to pay. I have been reading through the forums about civil demands and the possibilities of a court hearing. 4 weeks later I received the demand which asked for $500 dollars and included the standard disclaimer saying that payment of this was not an exemption from possible criminal prosecution. I immediately called some family members and got some loans. I submitted a check in the mail the day after I got the letter. None of this has surprised me all that much on account of what I have read, and what I have been told by the target employees. The last thing they told me before they let me go was that it was absolutely crucial that I pay the civil demand, and that if I didn't within in three weeks, then they would have no choice but to file a report to law enforcement for a warrant. They said this several times, I assume to scare me into paying the large demand. It worked. My question for all of you is what is the likelihood of receiving a court date in the mail? I understand the DA's office must approve the report from target, and that they can still sue me over damages. For the amount of $29.95, what kind of damage fines would I be looking at, and would it be significant enough for target to pursue through the court even after receiving 500 dollars from me through the civil demand? any response is much appreciated; i'm completely stressed out.
