On wenesday i was stupid enough to take a wallet from a coworker... I am a single parent raising 2 kids and going to college fulltime. I messed up. I know i did. I was arrested and now i have to return to court.. does anyone have any legal advise for me? Do you know any good criminal Lawyers in LA County? I know what I did is wrong but now I have to do whatever I can to fix it (if possible). I really need to know if a public defender would defend me good just like a private lawyer.. I have no family here in the United States so I can't go to jail because my kids would be left by themselves. Please if anyone has heard, witnessed, works, seen anything related to this problem, be kind enough to give me the information. Thank you again!
2006-10-03 05:38:43 · 24 answers · asked by lovely 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
i saw a young girl with a baby get locked up on cops for doing this it was her first offence so good luck,dont worry about your kids they put them in foster care
2006-10-03 05:42:45 · answer #1 · answered by dumplingmuffin 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The problem with public defenders is that they have too many cases to give any of them proper consideration. My experience is that they show up five minutes before your court hearing, look at your file for the first time, and then tell you to plead guilty. So, no, I probbly wouldn't use the public defender's office. On the other hand, attorneys are very expensive and criminal attorneys usually charge a flat rate for your legal problem ($2,500-$5,000 seems to be the range for Los Angeles County) . What you need to remember is that the PRICE OF FREEDOM COMES HIGH IN AMERICA. The better attorney you have the more likely you are to walk away from this issue with probation or a fine. One thing I do know is that you shouldn't lie to the judge or give some sorry story...there is nothing new in court and judges have heard about every sad tale ever conceived....SO TELL THE TRUTH...the judge has the power to be lenient and if you explain the matter as you did in your e-mail (single mother, desperate, never in trouble before, etc.) , he or she might cut you some slack. You can also call the district attorney's office to see if you can discuss resolution without court action....offer to pay a fine and restitution (this may not be an option but as my daddy says "the word 'no', won't kill you" and you don't know if you don't ask.
2006-10-03 05:55:04 · answer #2 · answered by bug927 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The public defender doesn't work as hard for you as a private attorney. They have a huge case load and will plead you guilty since you are guilty. They might try to give you probation only since its your first offense (at least I think it is). You'll go to court first then they'll tell you whether you qualifty for a public defender, then you'll do some paperwork and they'll set up an appointment with them. Just make your appointment with the public defender and they'll tell you what will happen. They've been through this scenario hundreds of times and can tell you point blank no BS about it what the outcome will be. Depending on how much you charged will determine if its a misdemeanor or felony charge. If it wasn't a great deal of money, they'll have you make restitution to the credit card company since their defraud department wrote off the charges for the coworker but they'll still want their money back, then probably give you 2 years probation. I'm pretty sure you won't get jail time for this. Good luck and hopefully you've learned a valuable lesson. We've all been in tough spots before where we were tempted to do something stupid that goes against our normal behavior, but sometimes you just have to control that urge and not do it, the consequences far outway what you hoped to gain in the end.
2006-10-03 05:52:54 · answer #3 · answered by Sandi A 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Typically with a public defender you don't get the one-on-one time with them as you do a private lawyer since they have soooo many clients.
I'll spare you the lecture because you know what you did was wrong. Maybe if you plead for leniency you'll get off with restitution. probation, community service and not jail time. I assume the judge will consider what you purchased with these stolen credit cards. I mean, did you buy groceries to feed your family or did you buy a plasma tv?
I get the feeling you are only remorseful because you were caught. I hope the next time you get the urge to do something like that you think about how you feel today and how it feels to possibily lose your family. You might think twice.
2006-10-03 06:07:27 · answer #4 · answered by Sandy Sandals 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't know any lawyers in LA, but I think the best you could do is throw yourself on the mercy of the court. Offer to pay the co-worker back. Take whatever punishment the judge decides. Then, next time, go to the social services. That's why this country has social services. It's going to take a long time and hard work to get straightened out and back on your feet, but it can be done.
Good luck.
2006-10-03 05:52:07 · answer #5 · answered by Lucy S 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you are not from the US and you only have a greencard, you may get deported. So, I hope you are a citizen. Regarding a lawyer, if all you can afford is a court appointed one, then you will have to just hope for the best. My opinion of court appointed laywer is many of them are just out of law school or lack the experience. My main concern are your children. From now on, think of your children before you act because your decision will affect them as well. I hope the judge will grant you some type of mercy on account of your kids. You may get off by just having to reinburse the amount you spent on the credit card and maybe community service.
2006-10-03 05:50:23 · answer #6 · answered by Pinolera 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not going to put you down, you've heard enough about how wrong it was... You need to get a lawyer as soon as possible. If this is your first offense you may just get probation. It just depends. Call a criminal defense lawyer right now, no matter if you can afford him or not. Do it for your kids!
2006-10-03 05:49:46 · answer #7 · answered by nsupanda82 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How are you going to afford a good criminal attorney?
Public defenders are sometimes pretty good, then others are like crabs. First offense, you most likely will get probation and a community service. Try to cop a plea and avoid jail time.
If you get jailed, the state will take your children and you will have a hard time getting them back. Talk to the person you stole from and try to get them to reduce the charges and then try to pay them back for the mess.
you need some good luck
2006-10-03 05:50:42 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps subconsciously you took the wallet and used the cards so that you would be caught. The struggle you face in your current situation is more than you can handle alone, and you chose to self-destruct. For you credit card fraud, for another a bad relationship, etc. You might want to write a letter to your co-worker and see if that person might drop the charges, if you agree to pay back the credit card companies. Even if they don't, write the letter anyway and apologize.
2006-10-03 05:50:31 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My best advice to you is to retain your own attorney and avoid a public defender if you can possibly afford it. IF this is your first offense, you do have a job, and the amount of money you spent is relatively small, you will probably be able to stay out of jail, considering that you have children and nobody is available to care for them in your absence. You will most certainly be ordered to repay your coworker, and you will be fined and probably ordered either community service or therapy or both. Express your regret with sincerity in court, and ask around for a GOOD white-collar crime attorney. Good luck to you.
2006-10-03 05:46:04 · answer #10 · answered by BoardingJD 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Lol, not to be cruel but, that's messed up. Why would u do something so dumb? Now, I bet of course you've lost that job. Now, u mentioned u have 2 kids, since that seems to be your defense. If that's your excuse then, what r u going to do now that you've cause yourself a job? If u needed money while u were working, you've trippled your problems. Well, don't know any lawyers but, you live and learn.
2006-10-03 05:45:44 · answer #11 · answered by Tasha 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋