madzie7007
New Member
like most people on this forum, i made a very stupid mistake and am very remorseful for what i did, but here is my situation...
i am 19, and studying at a private college in florida. my residency is in chicago
i was caught shoplifting at macy's on black friday...
it was a watch and tie that i was caught for, and i also admitted to taking a another item
i was running on no sleep on this day and was not thinking clearly...
i wanted to get presents for people i loved [mom, dad, and sis] but did not have money for it
the security guys stopped me just as a crossed the doors...
they trespassed me for 3 years, took all my info and what not
i paid $50 of the $200 civil fee on the spot [only cash i had at the time which i was reserving for another gift] and sent in a money order of $150 soon after [i borrowed money from my bf]
a cop came and took me to jail [i was arrested]
after taking all m info and what not, my bf bailed me out [this is my first offense, and although i had a get out of jail free card, i opted to get bailed out b/c the person i was talking to said it would be better since i was going to ask for a court change since i was gonna be out of town for my assigned arraignment date]
after that, i immediately went to the court to request a court date change, wrote a letter to the judge and everything, faxed a letter, called to check in every 2 days, and what not, and after sending proof of my plane flights and a waiver of my speedy trial, i was allowed to come to court two days after i arrive back in town. [i am very thankful for this because i don't want my parents to get involved]
now my questions are, what is gonna happen to me now?
i do not have funds to hire an attorney
i'm a first time, nonviolent offender [i cooperated with everything the authorities told me]
at the arraignment, am i required to make a plea? [guilty, not guilty, etc]
if so, what should i plead?
i head about pretrial diversion...what are my chances of getting on that program?
i'm only 19 and i have big plans for my life...i have no criminal record, and would really like it if this could be taken off my record...
what can i do to help my case?
what should i do?
what am i to expect at the court?
will i go to jail? [oh please, i hope not]
since the amount of the things taken was worth more than $100, i got a 1st degree misdemeanor, but they only charged me with petit theft...
please help me...
i am 19, and studying at a private college in florida. my residency is in chicago
i was caught shoplifting at macy's on black friday...
it was a watch and tie that i was caught for, and i also admitted to taking a another item
i was running on no sleep on this day and was not thinking clearly...
i wanted to get presents for people i loved [mom, dad, and sis] but did not have money for it
the security guys stopped me just as a crossed the doors...
they trespassed me for 3 years, took all my info and what not
i paid $50 of the $200 civil fee on the spot [only cash i had at the time which i was reserving for another gift] and sent in a money order of $150 soon after [i borrowed money from my bf]
a cop came and took me to jail [i was arrested]
after taking all m info and what not, my bf bailed me out [this is my first offense, and although i had a get out of jail free card, i opted to get bailed out b/c the person i was talking to said it would be better since i was going to ask for a court change since i was gonna be out of town for my assigned arraignment date]
after that, i immediately went to the court to request a court date change, wrote a letter to the judge and everything, faxed a letter, called to check in every 2 days, and what not, and after sending proof of my plane flights and a waiver of my speedy trial, i was allowed to come to court two days after i arrive back in town. [i am very thankful for this because i don't want my parents to get involved]
now my questions are, what is gonna happen to me now?
i do not have funds to hire an attorney
i'm a first time, nonviolent offender [i cooperated with everything the authorities told me]
at the arraignment, am i required to make a plea? [guilty, not guilty, etc]
if so, what should i plead?
i head about pretrial diversion...what are my chances of getting on that program?
i'm only 19 and i have big plans for my life...i have no criminal record, and would really like it if this could be taken off my record...
what can i do to help my case?
what should i do?
what am i to expect at the court?
will i go to jail? [oh please, i hope not]
since the amount of the things taken was worth more than $100, i got a 1st degree misdemeanor, but they only charged me with petit theft...
please help me...
