embezzlement

[ashamed]

EMBEZZLEMENT

im 18 years old from california and over a course of a few months ive fradulently made store credits and made fraud returns and ive gotten cash and store credit for about $700 dollars, this was all at my place of employment, when i got caught i was taken to the police dept and then released that same night, in exchange for my release i had to agree to appear in court my employer is prosecuting me. my question is that if i've never done anything in the past and im a good student and ive already paid back all of the money to the store what will most likely happen to me? the reason i did this if your curious is for econonmic reasons at home. what makes the situation worse is that another co worker was involved she did it for the same reasons and she doesnt have a record either (they have her for about $300 dollars) please someone tell me what can happen to the both of us, it will be greatly appreciated. thx

 

[lawrat]

I am a law school graduate. What I offer is mere information, not to be construed as forming an attorney client relationship.

Here is the statute for embezzlement. If you have no criminal record, are a good student, etc, my suggestion to you is get a good criminal defense attorney to see if there are delayed judgment or diversion programs available for your charges. These will do this: if you go through a trial period of 1 year with no mess ups, you are acquitted and you dont have a conviction.

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=pen&group=00001-01000&file=503-515

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=pen&group=00001-01000&file=2-24

For california, try either http://www.attorneypages.com or call the bar association (los angeles or san fran) and ask for lawyer referral.