What is the name of your state? South Carolina
Last night, I was in a convenience store and bought a couple of lottery tickets. I had a lot on my mind, but I also went in back and got a couple of drinks from the cooler. I scratched off one ticket and was thinking too much, I guess and assumed I had already paid for the drinks, pu them in the bag I always bring(they use crummy ones) and walked out without another thought, until I heard an employee yelling after me. When I stopped, she asked if I was going to pay for the drinks and I realized I hadn't. Now...I'm a 49 yr old white female...not stupid by any means....but fully embarassed. I went back to the store to pay, but the clerk wouldn't let me. She wanted me to stand off to the side and wait for the cops. I went and pu the drinks back in the cooler and said it was really stupid, but the clerk wanted to insist I get prosecuted...made an example of. I then left the store, but another employee had me go back inside, where a female cops waited and had me get in the car. She asked a couple of questions and I told her I thought I had paid and tried to. She went in to talk to them and they were insistent I be prosecuted. She then told me I'd have to go to jail and see a court judge. I was handcuffed and taken away to the jail, where I was photographed and fingerprinted and told NOTHING. Then put in a small cell with five other ladies...no pillows, just a hard bench or floor, and left to cry until I had a massive headache. My boyfriend was trying to find out about my bond, which hadn't been posted and went thru hell and high water trying to get thru to someone who knew something. Finally, afterfive hours or so, I was asked to come out of the room(not knowing why) and told to sign this and that paper...then given back my credit card and the instant tickets that had been in my pocket. My boyfriend had paid $400+ dollars to bond me out. I have a court date set for 10 days from now, but have no idea what to say....do I plead guilty or not? What are the ramifications if I do? The female cop told me the store had a new district manager who was all "gung-ho" for prosecutions(this was stuff under $4.00)plus...I put them back. What will my lack of concentration and memory bring down on my head? What's the most they can do...or the least? I really have no clue and no experience in these matters. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
Last night, I was in a convenience store and bought a couple of lottery tickets. I had a lot on my mind, but I also went in back and got a couple of drinks from the cooler. I scratched off one ticket and was thinking too much, I guess and assumed I had already paid for the drinks, pu them in the bag I always bring(they use crummy ones) and walked out without another thought, until I heard an employee yelling after me. When I stopped, she asked if I was going to pay for the drinks and I realized I hadn't. Now...I'm a 49 yr old white female...not stupid by any means....but fully embarassed. I went back to the store to pay, but the clerk wouldn't let me. She wanted me to stand off to the side and wait for the cops. I went and pu the drinks back in the cooler and said it was really stupid, but the clerk wanted to insist I get prosecuted...made an example of. I then left the store, but another employee had me go back inside, where a female cops waited and had me get in the car. She asked a couple of questions and I told her I thought I had paid and tried to. She went in to talk to them and they were insistent I be prosecuted. She then told me I'd have to go to jail and see a court judge. I was handcuffed and taken away to the jail, where I was photographed and fingerprinted and told NOTHING. Then put in a small cell with five other ladies...no pillows, just a hard bench or floor, and left to cry until I had a massive headache. My boyfriend was trying to find out about my bond, which hadn't been posted and went thru hell and high water trying to get thru to someone who knew something. Finally, afterfive hours or so, I was asked to come out of the room(not knowing why) and told to sign this and that paper...then given back my credit card and the instant tickets that had been in my pocket. My boyfriend had paid $400+ dollars to bond me out. I have a court date set for 10 days from now, but have no idea what to say....do I plead guilty or not? What are the ramifications if I do? The female cop told me the store had a new district manager who was all "gung-ho" for prosecutions(this was stuff under $4.00)plus...I put them back. What will my lack of concentration and memory bring down on my head? What's the most they can do...or the least? I really have no clue and no experience in these matters. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
