Hiding Misdemeanor

I was charged with petty theft back in 1996.
Can I somehow hide this from a potential employer? I am afraid I won't get hired because of this. Please advise!

It sounds like you were arrested but never convicted. Most employers only care about convictions so chances are you can answer most application questions truthfully; if however you are asked about prior arrests make sure you explain you were never convicted. It is always better to tell the truth than lie about one's past.