I was charged w/ burglary 2nd degree, grand theft, and child endangerment, can u help me?

Question

On March 20th, 07 I was charged w/ 2nd degree burglary, grand theft 400+, and child endangerment. Im a 19 single mother in college. I was with 2 friends and we went to a store and we stole (I had my daughter w/ me) I just helped pack stuff in to a stroller they had (it did not belong to me) and popped of a couple alarms (I don't know if they have that on video) my bail was $120,000 (a family member paid it) and I was out of jail in 12 hours. I did not walk out of the store with any items, my friend pushed the stroller out of the store and the securities chased us out.....we left and about 1 hr later came back to pick up his car and we got arrested by the police.....they guy that walked out w/ the stoller, his bail was $160,000 and remained in jail, went to court 3 days later and was released on probation for 3 yrs. My other friend was also bailed out (her bail was $30,000). Do u think I will go to jail? Should I plead not guilty since I didnt walk out w/ anything? Court on Mar 27

am a very fit mother.......I didn't ask this for you guys to judge me.........I need support......I'm going crazy......those 12 hrs in jail were the worst of my life....if i would have to go to jail....one of my family members would have to get on public assistance to support my daughter.......my question is do you think I will go to jail??? If, yes how long??? Even though the guy who pushed the stroller out got 3 years probation and the charges were lowered to misdemeanors??? His charges were burglary 2nd degree, child cruelty, grand theft, and conspiracy to commit a crime??? I live in California........I don't have a lawyer, I contacted the public defenders office and they told me they would appoint me one when I go to court....I can't discuss anything with any public defender until they appoint me one... I know I messed up, I really regret it....but should I plead not guilty or if they give me a good plea bargain (no jail) should I plea no contest or guilty? Please HELP!!!

Answer 1

Oh! I did something years ago that left me mortified and scared. Sometimes, for one reason or another, we make horrendous decisions. As a layman, I doubt jail is in your future. You have no prior record, a daughter who depends on you. I would be truthful and tell everyone you are sorry for your actions. My thoughts are with you! Hang in there!

Answer 2

I'm not one to judge another but Hun what were you thinking? Evidently you weren't thinking of your child. I tell my kids all the time "Think before you Act"! I live in Illinois but I imagine the court system is about the same in every state. If you have not had any other problems involving the law then they might give you probation but I would imagine since a child was a victim of circumstance in your care which is child endangerment then you might get more yrs than just 3.Plus you might have to take some child parenting classes if you can make a plea deal. I'm assuming if the "other guy" only got probation then most likely you will also, depending on the judge and the states attorney. Even though you didn't push the stroller out of the store, you were still an accessory to the crime. If the security didn't have any camera's on you at the time then you might be safe but don't bet on it. I would speak to your public defender when appointed on your court date and go from there. They can instruct on what to do.Think before you act from now on and also keep this in mind please...ask yourself this.."Knowing what you know now, would you ever jeopardize your child or even yourself on this type of act ever again?" Good Luck and I wish you well on your court date.

Answer 3

You are trying to make it sound like you are totally innocent because you didn't walk out of the store with any items or pushed the stroller out. You had to know what was going to happen before you even got to the store - sounds like it was all planned out. You are an accessory to the crime - you were there and did nothing to prevent it from happening. PLUS YOU TOOK YOUR DAUGHTER?????????? What were you thinking??? If this is your first crime, you may be lucky and get off with probation, court costs, community service, and hopefully some classes on how to be a fit mother. YES YOU SHOULD PLEAD QUILTY! From what you wrote, you knew exactly what was happening and did nothing to prevent it. You could have turned that stroller around and walked out of the store immediately. I'm sorry you are going through this with a young daughter, but I hope you have helpful parents.

Answer 4

Ha, wow.....You have so much going for why would you do something like this? Simply because you are human. O.k. So you made a mistake, and you are going to go through the system. If you have no prior record, you will be fine. They will attempt to scare you, which is good cause you need to be scared. Hopefully next time you think about consequences and accept responsibility for your actions *get ready cause you are gonna hear that alot* Anyway, Since your in college and you have a daughter that shows that you have things on the outside world that you care for, Do you have a job? that will help too. The only thing the judge is going to want to hear, is that you are sorry, this was a terrible mistake, it will never happen again, and that you will accept responsibility for your actions. Look him in the eye too. Also those people you were hanging around. Don't ever talk to them again, and if you have a drug problem i suggest you quit immediately. Take care of yourself and try to stress as little as possible o.k. Many people make mistakes like this, i did. The important thing is that you learn from them, move on with your life and help your daughter to grow in to a strong woman, who will help change this world for the better =)

Answer 5

First and foremost, you need to talk to your lawyer (after you get one appointed). I know it seems hard not to know the answers before court, but your lawyer will know more about the laws in your state. I am a criminal defense lawyer in Kentucky, so the laws are different. Unfortunately, from what you have said, even if you didn't, personally, take anything out of the store, you are probably guilty of complicity to grand theft since you helped put stuff in the stroller knowing they were going to steal it. I'm not sure where this burglary 2nd charge is coming from because, in Kentucky, what happened is not burglary. Also, I'm not sure what the law is in your state on child endangerment, but again, in Kentucky, they couldn't make that charge.

If you have a clean record, you should not have to do any jail time, and the prosecutor will probably offer you probation. As for whether to plead guilty or not, I can't answer that for you, but it does look like you are guilty of complicity to theft, even under the facts as you have stated them. I would make sure, through your attorney, that you are getting the best deal possible before taking any pleas. Good luck.

Answer 6

Sorry, no offense, but you knew about stolen property. I don't know if you will go to jail or not, but you are guilty as you knew and stole with them. If you didn't know at all is one thing, but you would have figured it out if it was in the stroller. I do not feel like someone who is just as guilty as those other people should plead not guilty. I'm sorry, but what is that teaching your child? That it's okay as long as you knew but didn't do anything? You had your daughter with you when you stole. Sorry, how do you expect us to give you support when you are teaching your child it is okay to steal?

Answer 7

Considering he holds more charges than you and got out pretty dern lucky, my first guess would be that you too will be let off easily. I'm not a lawyer, I only worked for one temporarily, but it seems like you may be ok...again this is only an opinion, and I know you're looking for hard facts and straight anwsers, but the fact is in legal cases you can never really tell. If you have the same judge, then most likely you'll have the same penalty, unless he really takes in consideration the charges involving the child, in that case you being the mother and you allowing this to happen with the child there (not judging, promise!) may play a major role in his/her or the jury's (if a jury is present) decision.

Answer 8

Get an attorney. Since you had your child with you, they can add the child endangerment to you. I see it all the time where people take children with them to commit crimes because they think the law will go easier on them. Well it doesn't work and they add on extra charges for bringing your child along. The courts are not going to care if your relative has to go on public assistance in order to take in your child. They may not even let a relative have your child and she may go to the fathers side of the family. I hope you know that if there is a custody battle for your child, the other side now has a valid reason to get the child.

The courts are going to place the welfare of the child first and you may loose your child just because you took her with you to commit the crime. Your friend may have gotten a reduced sentence because he has agreed to testify against you in court. It does not matter if you were carrying the stolen items or not. In Florida, if you knowingly go with someone and help them to commit the crime, then you are just as guilty. Even if you just drive them there and then wait in the car.

Get a lawyer today and ask for some help. You are going to need it. Because you took your child with you the courts are not going to be easy on you.

Answer 9

If you do get sentenced to jail time, it will be because you deserve it. Personally, I don't understand the mindset of dicksmacks like yourself who commit felonies and show up on a bulletin board full of cops asking for help in defending yourself.

Get yourself an attorney. Unless you have a previous criminal record, he may be able to get some of the charges dropped for a guilty plea on other charges less severe. It can keep you from doing time as well.

Clean up your act and be a mother instead of hanging out with a bunch of jackelopes. Otherwise, you may not have your child for long.

Answer 10

I don't know what will happen to you but it sounds like your daughter is off to a good start in life. Maybe you can teach her to go to school and steal other kid's lunch money. I have an idea, why don't you get a job and stop stealing, thief.