Criminal Law/Petty Larceny

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Expert: - 9/13/2009


Question
I'm from Minneapolis MN and was found committing petty larceny ($115) at a local Wal Mart.  I was walking out of the store and was stopped by the security guard.  I was taken into the back room and given a citation for petty larceny.  It was my first offense and I have an impeccable record.  I was not fingerprinted.  I am just wondering what I will be facing in the future? will this end up on my permanent record? is there any way to avoid this ending up on my record? If I plea guilty and pay the fine, will I be finished with it after that?

thank you for your imput.

Answer
Emily,

I have no way of knowing how the court system works in your county but I do know this.  If you plead guilty you will be considered a convicted thief.  You will have a hard time getting any kind of job that involves any type of trust or responsibility because the conviction will always show up on any background check.   Before you do anything you need to contact an attorney (not on the Internet) and get advice on what to do in this case.

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Jack Toomey

Expertise

Please do not ask me about potential jail sentences that you, your friends, or family might receive in court. There is no way for me to know that. Only a judge could answer a question like that. I am also NOT a probation officer or parole officer so I cannot answer questions that relate to parole or probation. Also please keep in mind that every state has different laws. If you are planning to ask a question about a specific law or criminal charge that pertains to your state only it could be difficult to answer. I also cannot give you legal advice on what to do or what not to do in court. Retired police officer with 26 years experience. Worked in the patrol division as well as over 14 years in the detective bureau. Investigated a wide range of crime such as murder, rape, robbery, theft, fraud, missing persons, and other very sensitive crimes. I am available to answer your questions about criminal law and especially as it applies to police work. I taught at the police academy for several years and am especially knowledgeable about search and seizure. Any question about criminal law is welcome! Please don't ask me to do your homework or ask me questions that obviously come from your teachers or professors. I also do not do online interviews or surveys. Young people need to gain face to face interviewing skills. Local police officers usually are very agreeable to assist in these assignments.

Experience

I am a retired police officer with 26 years experience. I investigated almost every type of crime including murder, rape, theft, missing persons, fraud, and domestic abuse. I am very knowledgeable about search and seizure and taught at the police academy for several years on a variety of subjects. I can answer questions that a lot of attorneys cannot since they do not have "street experience".

Education/Credentials
Bachelor of Science degree in Criminolgy from the University of Maryland.

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