Ashely

i was caught walking out with a sweater around my waist and items in a shopping cart under paid items ( I honestly didn’t know there was items in the cart) but yes for the sweater I did remove the tags after getting caught in my hair, I laid tags on the dressing room seat, when I don’t that I seen other tags in the dressing room and honestly I threw them in the next dressing room next to me (not the same tags) I laid mine on the seat so I wouldn’t loose them. Well I forgot they was there and after trying on everything I left them. The store cop said he found tags after me pulling them off on the dressing room floor.
I had every meaning of paying for the sweater. But yes I was in the wrong for wrapping it around my waist in store while shopping still.
This was on black Friday at 4:15 am I was exhausted and wasn’t thinking straight. My sister in law and her friend was with me. we all had different items in 3 different carts. after checking out there was still items in the shopping carts and I honestly didn’t realize it or I would have removed the items or paid for them. I didn’t even put the items in the cart. but I was the one that walked out with the cart at SEARS. so I was put in the back of the police car and was charged for all the items the cop said for 2 reasons I walked out with the sweater on me and I was pushing the shopping cart out with unpaid items covered up with paid items.
the police officer called my driver card in and said as long as I come back clean to prior’s he will write me a ticket where I must make a court date within 10 days. I came back clean and he did so.
I made my court date and im due in court this month.
now in 2005 I walked out of walmart 8 months pregnant with diapers/baby monitors and I ended up taking the diversion programand I was told it wouldn’t go on my record but it did ( honestly I barely remember anything about the program of what happened)
I just pulled my criminal record and it shows the petit theft and disposion date ( guessing when it was completed?)
This petit theft charge is for a little over 100$
im terrified that im going to go to jail over the holidays or worse spend time in jail.
I was honestly exhausted by the end of the shopping and I had no thoughts of ever walking out without paying for anything, but it happened.
what is going to happen to me? am I going to jail? do I qualify for the pre-dirversion program? or anything other than jail?
I also just passed my ged and was planning on going to collage after the new year after seeing if I could apply for finicial help but im sure my future holds nothing good for me now because of a stupid mistake on my behalf. I never placed the items in the cart it was the friend but I did walk out with cart & she wasn’t even questioned so im taking the blamefor it because I did walk out with cart not knowing items was in it and I honestly forgot about the sweater, not making excuses but now im wondering if I have a future education wise?
what is going to happen to me?
im terrified right now?
I have 4 children and 1 is handicapped (autistic) and im so afraid this is going to affect my children as well. I did however use this as an example to 2 oldiest children, to help them understand not paying for an item is a crime. I went though this with my 13 year old and I brought him back to walgreens made him pay for it and then made him apologize and I had the cashier throw the candy away.
How could I not think and not check the cart before leaving I always do, and how could I forget about the sweater. im so ashamed of my self and so terrified that I wont be home for Christmas for my children. this was an honest mistake.
im a good person yes I made a mistake years ago and then a few days ago but im always volunteering at my children’s schools, i have helped organized a charity event for military family’s with loved ones over sea’s, we adopt a family each year to help over the holidays.
Im always trying to help, but now im the screw up and im so embarrassed, i have never been in trouble except for this and the 2005 one,
i cant afford an attorney and i have no clue what to do my court date is right before Christmas?