CdwJava
Senior Member
If you cannot afford an attorney, one should be appointed for you. And, understand that most shoplifters say that their actions were unintentional. Depending on the actions you took, this claim may be considered laughable and your attorney may suggest a plea deal anyway. For instance, if you were shopping and put all other items in a basket but slipped that new CD into a handbag "just to hold it" then no one's going to buy it.And it was not intentional or knowingly. Which is why part of me wants to try to fight it. But attorney fees are ridiculously expensive. So I also have to weigh in the debt this could add on my family.
From what I read, probation of up to 5 years is a possibility, but, it also appears that probation is something that is not often given ... but, that could be for offenses that have minimum sentences. You'd really need to talk with an attorney well versed in federal law.