So I'm in utah and myself and 2 friends are 19 and we were caught shoplifting. The items were under $100 and the cop gave us a citation. We have to call the court and find out what day we have to go in (so like traffic court). Anyways none of us have ever been charged or have done anything like this before. Our records are clean and we would like to keep it that way, but we are not sure what to plea or how to go about this. Side note we got away with the stuff though.
You have both a criminal action and a civil action to worry about. The "stuff" you got away with is liable to cost you far more than if you had simply purchased the goods.
In a civil action, the court can award the merchant not only the retail price of the stolen goods but an additional $100 to $500.
In a criminal action, the shoplifting of items under $100 is a Class B misdemeanor, subject to a jail term of up to 6 months and a fine of up to $1000. Plus, if convicted, the misdemeanor becomes part of your criminal record and can adversely affect your employment opportunities, your financial aid, loan availability and/or rates, insurance availability and/or rates, and travel to foreign countries.
I recommend you consult with an attorney in your area of Utah before entering a plea or, if you cannot sit down with an attorney prior to your court date, it can be smart to plead "not guilty" and allow for a new court date to be scheduled. You should use the time between your first hearing and your second hearing to see an attorney.
If you find yourself without an attorney at the first hearing (and with or without an attorney at your second hearing), it will be important for you to show the proper respect for the court. Do not wear jeans or baseball caps or tee-shirts (dress nicely, in other words), and do not try to excuse your shoplifting (there IS no excuse), and address the judge as Your Honor, and do not smell like smoke or heavy cologne or anything objectionable, and do not argue - be polite and contrite. Attitude matters. A lot.
I also recommend you do NOT attend the hearing with your friends. Nineteen year olds are not the most mature-acting when they are in a group. In court, you will want to show the judge you are mature enough to handle a diversion program.
This is where the attorney can be of great help. The attorney can work with the prosecutor to get you into a diversion program with conditions that, if successfully met during a probationary period, can keep the misdemeanor off your record. Unless the shoplifting charge can be dismissed entirely (unlikely), a diversion program is what you will want.