Q: What is my best option for shoplifting charges?
Last week I was hanging out with an old friend and decided to shoplift a pair of shoes. Got caught and have court in a couple months for it. I have no criminal record.
I'm in college and I graduate in May. I really don't know all my options here but I don't want to go to jail and I obviously dont want a misdemeanor on my record. No lectures please because I already know that what I did was stupid and wrong.
Is paying 2500$ to have a lawyer represent me a necessary choice or would I be okay representing myself? Also if I end up with probation or community service how will that work since this happened in California and I go to school in Arizona
Thanks so much!:)
A: Depending on the value of the shoes it might be possible to get the case reduced to an infraction. Otherwise as a first time offender you would be a good candidate for diversion so you can avoid a conviction. As part of diversion you would have to perform community service or community labor which could be completed in Arizona.
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