I am 31 years old, and my 18 year old nephew and my 7 year old daughter and I went to the mall. I had a purse and a pair of jeans from Store name that I wanted to exchange...I didn't have the receipt for them, but I've never been hassled about that before, as it was just an exchange. Anyway, I had the items in a shopping bag, we went into the store, a saleslady stopped me and asked me to try some perfume, I told her I had some things to exchange and would stop back. I went to the purse section, didn't see a purse worth exchanging the one I had for, and went to the jeans section. I took 3 pairs into the dressing room, none of them fit, so I put them back on the shelf and we left. We were walking around the mall, stopping in stores and browsing, and my nephew wanted to go into Store name. The idiot decided to steal a pair of jeans and he got caught. So the
employees at Store name wanted to search my bag since I was with him, I told them that was fine. Then he wanted to see the receipt, which I didn't have. I started to explain to him why I didn't have one, and he told me I was going to jail, so my daughter and I left the store, and the mall. I figured when my nephew was ready or released he would call, and I would go pick him up. SO he called and told me he had a citation and a court date, and needed a ride. When I showed up to get him, a police officer came to my car told me to shut it off and get out. He searched my car and asked me where the itmes from Store name were. I told him "At home." He told me my options were to either cooperate and give him the items or go to jail and tell it to the judge on monday, and CPS would be called to take my child. So at this point he could've gotten me to admit to anything!! The thought of losing my child was enough. So he made my newphew take my car back to my house,
get the items from Store name, and come back. In the meantime, the LP officer said the store was not going to prosecute, they took my picture, and I had to sign a paper stating I would never go into the store. The police officer gave me a citation as well with a court date. This was on a Saturday, and on Monday I called the manager of Store name, explained the situation to him, asked iof he could help me in anyway, he said he would call me back, and that was 3 days agho and I have not heard back from him. I know I did nothing wrong, but I also know how the big picture looks. He got caught stealing, I had items with no receipt, I pretty much admitted to it for fear of losing my child. What can I do? Am I totally screwed? I have called several attorneys but the cheapest one is $1000, which I don't have, and I'm pretty sure I make too much to qualify for a public defender!! Please offer any advice you can.
employees at Store name wanted to search my bag since I was with him, I told them that was fine. Then he wanted to see the receipt, which I didn't have. I started to explain to him why I didn't have one, and he told me I was going to jail, so my daughter and I left the store, and the mall. I figured when my nephew was ready or released he would call, and I would go pick him up. SO he called and told me he had a citation and a court date, and needed a ride. When I showed up to get him, a police officer came to my car told me to shut it off and get out. He searched my car and asked me where the itmes from Store name were. I told him "At home." He told me my options were to either cooperate and give him the items or go to jail and tell it to the judge on monday, and CPS would be called to take my child. So at this point he could've gotten me to admit to anything!! The thought of losing my child was enough. So he made my newphew take my car back to my house,
get the items from Store name, and come back. In the meantime, the LP officer said the store was not going to prosecute, they took my picture, and I had to sign a paper stating I would never go into the store. The police officer gave me a citation as well with a court date. This was on a Saturday, and on Monday I called the manager of Store name, explained the situation to him, asked iof he could help me in anyway, he said he would call me back, and that was 3 days agho and I have not heard back from him. I know I did nothing wrong, but I also know how the big picture looks. He got caught stealing, I had items with no receipt, I pretty much admitted to it for fear of losing my child. What can I do? Am I totally screwed? I have called several attorneys but the cheapest one is $1000, which I don't have, and I'm pretty sure I make too much to qualify for a public defender!! Please offer any advice you can.
