If I made a huge mistake last night and shoplifted from a store, how can I keep it off of my record?
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If I made a huge mistake last night and shoplifted from a store, how can I keep it off of my record?
I was in the parking lot when a member of loss control approached me. He wanted me to come in and talk with him but I panicked and left. I left all merchandise there. I called about an hour later and went back up there where I offered to pay for the items. He told me that they recovered everything so there was no need in that, issued me a criminal trespass and told me that he had filed a report with the local police. He also said the dollar amount was less than a hundred but didn’t give me an exact amount. He told me that this would be investigated and that more than likely a warrant will be issued for me.
Asked on February 4, 2015 under Criminal Law, Texas
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 9 years ago | Contributor
At this point, you should consult directly with an attorney in your area. They can use their contacts with the court in question to your best advantage. You may qualify for a program called "diversion" (or your state's equivalent). With such a program you plead guilty to the the offense but are then palced on a special probation. If you successfully complete your probation, your plea will be withdrawn and you will will be left with a clean criminal history record. However, diversion is only avaialble to first-time offenders. A criminal law attorney can explain all of this in more detail and go over other possible options with you.
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