what options do i have?

[dreamer2263]

What is the name of your state? Indiana

i've been accused of stealing a customer's camera from work. they're basing this accusation on the fact that i'm seen leaving work three days after her camera came up missing carrying my camera out of the store. i've been to the police station twice in the last three days of my own free will, the second time to take my camera and case up so it could be photographed, and on the last visit i was informed that the detective assigned to the case believed i was holding the customer's camera and not my own. the detective informed me that if i admitted it was the customer's camera i had in my hand so he could close his case, he'd see that i only got charged with conversion and not theft. he got sort of angry with me when i asked him why i would do that when i didn't take the camera and said the only way to clear my name was to take a polygraph test. he sort of implied that i had no choice in the polygraph. i don't know what to do. i've been researching polygraphs and from what i can find, they damn as many people as they clear especially if the person is prone to nervousness anyway. i have never intentionally broken the law. i've got one friend who tells me if i find a way to get a lawyer without being arrested first (i most definitely cannot afford one) i'm admitting guilt. i posted this on another message board, but there's a noticeable lack of interest or advice on that one. i thought maybe if i put it on here, someone who may have been in a similar situation may know what i can do.

[seniorjudge]

Originally Posted by dreamer2263

What is the name of your state? Indiana

i've been accused of stealing a customer's camera from work. they're basing this accusation on the fact that i'm seen leaving work three days after her camera came up missing carrying my camera out of the store. i've been to the police station twice in the last three days of my own free will, the second time to take my camera and case up so it could be photographed, and on the last visit i was informed that the detective assigned to the case believed i was holding the customer's camera and not my own. the detective informed me that if i admitted it was the customer's camera i had in my hand so he could close his case, he'd see that i only got charged with conversion and not theft. he got sort of angry with me when i asked him why i would do that when i didn't take the camera and said the only way to clear my name was to take a polygraph test. he sort of implied that i had no choice in the polygraph. i don't know what to do. i've been researching polygraphs and from what i can find, they damn as many people as they clear especially if the person is prone to nervousness anyway. i have never intentionally broken the law. i've got one friend who tells me if i find a way to get a lawyer without being arrested first (i most definitely cannot afford one) i'm admitting guilt. i posted this on another message board, but there's a noticeable lack of interest or advice on that one. i thought maybe if i put it on here, someone who may have been in a similar situation may know what i can do.

double post

[url]http://forum.freeadvice.com/showthread.php?t=403730[/url]

Ask your questions in the first thread you started.

[sagito327]

Do not take a poly. Though they are more accurate than I think you may be aware, you simply have no obligation to potentially incriminate yourself. Along the same lines, don't get a lawyer either...yet. If the detective continues to hard-nose you then you may feel more comfortable with one. But the fact is, you really do not have to say anything to them until you are charged. My suggestion would be that if he calls then politely tell him you have said all that you have to say on the matter. If, subsequently, you are arrested--then get that lawyer.

[The Occultist]

Originally Posted by sagito327

Do not take a poly. Though they are more accurate than I think you may be aware, you simply have no obligation to potentially incriminate yourself. Along the same lines, don't get a lawyer either...yet. If the detective continues to hard-nose you then you may feel more comfortable with one. But the fact is, you really do not have to say anything to them until you are charged. My suggestion would be that if he calls then politely tell him you have said all that you have to say on the matter. If, subsequently, you are arrested--then get that lawyer.

Pardon me, board newbie, but the point of SJ's post that this thread was a duplicate was so that we would get the OP's issues taken care of in a single thread. You responding to this thread may muck that up somewhat. And now I've responded so now you've got me doing it too!

[dreamer2263]

this "OP" is glad that the "newbie" gave me advice. i can't afford to "get a lawyer, like yesterday", like the response i got on the other post, so the issues in question were nowhere near getting cleared up. and they're still somewhat cloudy, but may be a bit clearer.

forgive me for "mucking up" your system. this issue is just about as big as it gets for me, and i apologize for transgressing.

desperate times call for desperate measures.