What is the name of your state?New Mexico
I am so confused! I was accused of shoplifting, I admit looking back that it looks like it, but I had every intention of paying for the items I collected. I had several bags from other stores, and had laid the items across one of my bags. Yes I removed 2 hangers, one fell off by itself and the other was intangled on a sweather in one of my bags. To free my hands I laid the items across one of my bags, I purchased some items from the automotive depart and was headed back to the the clothing dept to put something back and get something cheaper, because I was on a budget. I did see the security guard and 2 employees standing around, I over heard them and assumed they had a shoplifter in custody. As I was making my way back to the clothing dept. I noticed the 2 employess gathering the other employees in groups. I had no idea they were watching me until a policeman walked up to me and questioned me. I first thought he was going to question me about the shoplifter, but NO he wanted to search my bags. Thats when I looked down at my bags and noticed the items I laid across had worked there way in my bag. I tried to explain, but no one wanted to hear me. The policeman told me to tell it to the judge. I was issued a citation. I contacted an attorney and was informed to plea not guilty but it would cost $ 1300 to represent me. I asked my other options, and was told about no contest and deferred sentence and I could represent myself. this time of year I decided to plea no contest. When I went to court, I gave my plea the judge asked me what I had to say. As I proceeded to tell him that I had every intention to pay for the items, He became angry, informed me he could charge me with a felony for lying. He also stated that people made mistakes and now was the time to lay my cards on the table and tell the truth. I did not know what to do? I was telling the truth, so I started over. He then grabed up the paper work with my plea on it informed me he was going to change it to not guilty and assign me a public defender. The Attorney did not inform me of a public defender. But now that I made the judge mad, what chance do I have now of claiming my innocents? How is it the judge can accuse me of lying? Will I get a harsher punishment now? Should I have just plead guilty? What happened to innocent until proven guilty?
I am so confused! I was accused of shoplifting, I admit looking back that it looks like it, but I had every intention of paying for the items I collected. I had several bags from other stores, and had laid the items across one of my bags. Yes I removed 2 hangers, one fell off by itself and the other was intangled on a sweather in one of my bags. To free my hands I laid the items across one of my bags, I purchased some items from the automotive depart and was headed back to the the clothing dept to put something back and get something cheaper, because I was on a budget. I did see the security guard and 2 employees standing around, I over heard them and assumed they had a shoplifter in custody. As I was making my way back to the clothing dept. I noticed the 2 employess gathering the other employees in groups. I had no idea they were watching me until a policeman walked up to me and questioned me. I first thought he was going to question me about the shoplifter, but NO he wanted to search my bags. Thats when I looked down at my bags and noticed the items I laid across had worked there way in my bag. I tried to explain, but no one wanted to hear me. The policeman told me to tell it to the judge. I was issued a citation. I contacted an attorney and was informed to plea not guilty but it would cost $ 1300 to represent me. I asked my other options, and was told about no contest and deferred sentence and I could represent myself. this time of year I decided to plea no contest. When I went to court, I gave my plea the judge asked me what I had to say. As I proceeded to tell him that I had every intention to pay for the items, He became angry, informed me he could charge me with a felony for lying. He also stated that people made mistakes and now was the time to lay my cards on the table and tell the truth. I did not know what to do? I was telling the truth, so I started over. He then grabed up the paper work with my plea on it informed me he was going to change it to not guilty and assign me a public defender. The Attorney did not inform me of a public defender. But now that I made the judge mad, what chance do I have now of claiming my innocents? How is it the judge can accuse me of lying? Will I get a harsher punishment now? Should I have just plead guilty? What happened to innocent until proven guilty?