Here is the story. I stole a gift card from a Home Depot customer. Worth about $160 Stupid I know. Home Depot asset protection caught me and pulled me into their office and began their interrogation.
They told me how they had me on camera and how things would be a lot easier if I just cooperated and admitted what I had done. I have never done anything like this, so I came clean, admitted my fault. He asked if I had the gift card, I told him yes and that it was in my wallet. He told me to leave it there. . I just wanted to get out of there.
They asked me to fill out a statement about what I had done. Which I did. He also informed me that the Home Depot notified the customer and had reimbursed them the money. He asked if I would be willing to pay restitution to the Home Depot for the money they were out reimbursing the customer? I told him that I would. So he also had me fill out a form saying that I would pay Home Depot restitution.
The asked me to please wait, that they would get me on my way shortly. Well, that wasn't true. They called the police. The officer asked me what was going on and foolishly I told them without a fight. This whole time I'm confused, scared, completely unaware of my rights in this situation.
The officer asked to see my ID and give her the gift card. Which I did. The officer left the room. After several minutes the officer returned. She informed me that a gift card wasn't considered fraud, and therefore was a misdemeanor. She also informed me that the Home Depot could not press charges, because it was not their money, it was the customer's money. However, the customer wanted to press charges, so I was going to be arrested. The Home Depot deactivated the stolen card and as I said above issued the customer a new gift card.
So I was given a citation with date to appear in court (technically arrested I guess). The offense is simply listed "theft".
So what do I do now? Am I screwed because I spilled my guts? Also I have a feeling that Home Depot is going to come after me for restitution. Does the gift card that the officer took from me and was deactivated count as restitution? Can Depot still make me pay $160? I can't afford a lawyer and since this is my first offense, I obviously don't want this on my record. I would like to get this dropped, or reduced if possible.
So do I plead not guilty and get a public defender and try to drop it, or do I plead guilty and pay the piper?
They told me how they had me on camera and how things would be a lot easier if I just cooperated and admitted what I had done. I have never done anything like this, so I came clean, admitted my fault. He asked if I had the gift card, I told him yes and that it was in my wallet. He told me to leave it there. . I just wanted to get out of there.
They asked me to fill out a statement about what I had done. Which I did. He also informed me that the Home Depot notified the customer and had reimbursed them the money. He asked if I would be willing to pay restitution to the Home Depot for the money they were out reimbursing the customer? I told him that I would. So he also had me fill out a form saying that I would pay Home Depot restitution.
The asked me to please wait, that they would get me on my way shortly. Well, that wasn't true. They called the police. The officer asked me what was going on and foolishly I told them without a fight. This whole time I'm confused, scared, completely unaware of my rights in this situation.
The officer asked to see my ID and give her the gift card. Which I did. The officer left the room. After several minutes the officer returned. She informed me that a gift card wasn't considered fraud, and therefore was a misdemeanor. She also informed me that the Home Depot could not press charges, because it was not their money, it was the customer's money. However, the customer wanted to press charges, so I was going to be arrested. The Home Depot deactivated the stolen card and as I said above issued the customer a new gift card.
So I was given a citation with date to appear in court (technically arrested I guess). The offense is simply listed "theft".
So what do I do now? Am I screwed because I spilled my guts? Also I have a feeling that Home Depot is going to come after me for restitution. Does the gift card that the officer took from me and was deactivated count as restitution? Can Depot still make me pay $160? I can't afford a lawyer and since this is my first offense, I obviously don't want this on my record. I would like to get this dropped, or reduced if possible.
So do I plead not guilty and get a public defender and try to drop it, or do I plead guilty and pay the piper?
