A week ago, I made a really stupid decision by shoplifting at a grocery store in the state of Washington. I am a 20 year old college student and took some candy from the store (total of about $10). I was caught right as I left the store and was taken to the office upstairs, where the security explained that I would be fined $350. He called a police officer to come pick me up and take me to the station, where they took my fingerprints and told me that I would get a letter in the mail informing me of my court date. I was very cooperative the whole time, and answered everything truthfully.
I am extremely remorseful for what I did, and know it was a petty and selfish thing to do. Now I am wondering when to expect my court date to come in the mail, and more importantly, what should I expect upon the day of the court? My record is completely clean as of right now (never even gotten a speeding or parking ticket), and they told me that this would go as a third degree misdemeanor. I have read up on different sources, but they all tell me different things - some say I should tell the truth, others to say I am not guilty, and others tell me to say "no contest." What is the best way to approach this honestly? I have also been told to ask for an attorney so he or she can handle the situation - and perhaps ask for a diversion, but I'm not sure what that means. I want to be honest and make them see that I really am sorry for what I did and that it will never happen again, but at the same time, I don't know if pleading guilty is the best thing to do. Any thoughts?
Also, what type of punishment would I most likely get? I understand that I might have to pay a fine (on top of the $350 fine that I already paid to the grocery store) and do community service... anything else?
I am extremely remorseful for what I did, and know it was a petty and selfish thing to do. Now I am wondering when to expect my court date to come in the mail, and more importantly, what should I expect upon the day of the court? My record is completely clean as of right now (never even gotten a speeding or parking ticket), and they told me that this would go as a third degree misdemeanor. I have read up on different sources, but they all tell me different things - some say I should tell the truth, others to say I am not guilty, and others tell me to say "no contest." What is the best way to approach this honestly? I have also been told to ask for an attorney so he or she can handle the situation - and perhaps ask for a diversion, but I'm not sure what that means. I want to be honest and make them see that I really am sorry for what I did and that it will never happen again, but at the same time, I don't know if pleading guilty is the best thing to do. Any thoughts?
Also, what type of punishment would I most likely get? I understand that I might have to pay a fine (on top of the $350 fine that I already paid to the grocery store) and do community service... anything else?
