What will happen if I was accused of petty theft in Ca.

In CA, a theft charge of under $950 is a petty theft and is punishable in the county jail for up to 6 months and a maximum $1,000 fine. The consequences of such a conviction can have lasting impact. Since this offense involves moral turpitude conduct, it can carry negative consequences for people seeking/maintaining a professional license,on employment opportunities, rental housing, etc. That having been said, for a first offense you may be able to get something called "diversion". If granted, you will beed to pead guity but after the successful completion of your sentence (community service, fines, etc.), your plea is withdrawn and your criminal history record will be clear. It will be as though the offense never happened. That all having been said, Ppetty theft is characterized as a specific intent crime so your state of mind at the time of the act is crucial. You could have lacked the requisite intent by acting inadvertently or by mistake. For instance, as in your case, you placed an item in your bag and forgot to pay for it at the checkout counter. At this point, you may want to consult directly with a local criminal law attorney in your area who can best advise you further.

In CA, a theft charge of under $950 is a petty theft and is punishable in the county jail for up to 6 months and a maximum $1,000 fine. The consequences of such a conviction can have lasting impact. Since this offense involves moral turpitude conduct, it can carry negative consequences for people seeking/maintaining a professional license,on employment opportunities, rental housing, etc. That having been said, for a first offense you may be able to get something called "diversion". If granted, you will beed to pead guity but after the successful completion of your sentence (community service, fines, etc.), your plea is withdrawn and your criminal history record will be clear. It will be as though the offense never happened. That all having been said, Ppetty theft is characterized as a specific intent crime so your state of mind at the time of the act is crucial. You could have lacked the requisite intent by acting inadvertently or by mistake. For instance, as in your case, you placed an item in your bag and forgot to pay for it at the checkout counter. At this point, you may want to consult directly with a local criminal law attorney in your area who can best advise you further.