I am 24. At the beginning of this year, I made a very valuable mistake by going into a grocery store and taking 25.00 worth of food. I bought some things, but took the things that I could not afford. I had no lawyer or defense, because I was scared and had never done anything like this, so I didn't know what to do. I've heard that based on the cost of the goods taken, the judge would be more lenient. Now I have a record for petty theft, I got 3 years of probation, and had to pay a fine of $310.00. I was cool with everything except the 3 years of probation. Now I can't get this sh!t expunged for another 2 years and 5 months. I'm 24 and can't stay at this sh!t job for $9.50 an hour and not afford college. I've had jobs my whole life and can't even apply at some temp agency due to having a misd. for petty theft. I don't want to sell myself short, but at this point, nobody will hire me and I can't afford school (financial aid turned me down). Should I strip for a minute? Need to eat.
2007-09-21 00:10:51 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Unfortunately there isn't much you can do right now. The fact you are not a minor limits if it can be expunged or sealed that easily. Usually background investigations go back 7 years, and you are still in the probation phase. Good news is that it was a misdemeanor, and it won't follow you around like a felony.
Instead of temp agencies, try a recruiter. They are professionals in the field of employment and may have connections that may help you.
The reason I know this is because I am now 43, and when I was 19 I did something similar to what you did. I was able find employment with prvate companies. I worked as a body and fender man for a dealership, and made very good money (in 1986-88).
Misdemeanors don't hurt you as bad, just make sure you don't do anything else like it again. I will tell you that it popped up when I applied for a higher level security clearance with the Navy two years ago, and it did require me to be interviewed and present documents from the case. It was all good, but save your paperwork.
Don't sweat it, I live a good life in California (temporarily in Iraq)
with the same issue. People understand you were once young.
2007-09-21 00:36:14 · answer #1 · answered by jimmyd 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm sorry that happened to you. It's too bad someone didn't give you good advice about hiring an attorney. Since it was your first offense, and with the small dollar amount involved, an attorney could have had the charges voluntarily dismissed in exchange for a few hours of community service or the like.
If I were you, I'd still make an appointment with a criminal attorney for a free consultation. Tell your story. Be very honest and tell him/her everything. There still might be something they can do for you; I don't know. But that is where I would start if I were you.
It's unfortunate that good people sometimes do bad things and those things can follow them throughout their lives. It's very hard to get anyone to trust you after you have a criminal record of any kind.
Ask the attorney about getting the record expunged. Also ask if there is anything you can do to get the sentence changed to time served.
A good attorney can do almost anything!
2007-09-24 18:06:50 · answer #2 · answered by Let me steer you 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure what the hell, you made one stupid mistake by committing a crime then another by not having council. Why not just keep piling on more and more mistakes?
Look, you are not a child. You are 24 years old and decide to start stealing? I doubt it was the first time. 24 years old and you could not afford $25 dollars worth of goods? In a job paing $9.50 per hour? Afford college? You should already be finished with college.
I don't know. This whole thing stinks to high heavens if you ask me. I have a bit of experience in security and most people do not shoplift more than a single item the first time they try it. You admit to stealing several. I bet you have been doing this and getting away with it for many years. I bet this whole college routine is something you just created out of whole cloth to gain sympathy.
You have been out of high school for seven years. You are in a job paying minimum wage. How is that possible?
If you want to be a stripper, then at least be honest and say so. Stop trying to justify it. There is no justification for it. You seem to be seriously addicted to the easy way out. A simple petty theft conviction need not stop you from getting a better job. It will make it harder but not impossible.
You have to change your mind-set and stop seeing yourself as a victim, stop feeling sorry for yourself, stop making bad decisions and stop looking for the easy way out.
That is my advice to you.
.
2007-09-21 01:50:31 · answer #3 · answered by Jacob W 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
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2014-09-24 09:30:45 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dont STEAL ever again and keep your record clean. You should never result to theft. If you are that broke and can't eat go down to the assistance office and get a little help until you can better afford things! You now have to live with what you've done dear--but your life is NOT OVER....we all make mistakes and/or do things we regret. And here is a saying I heard a long time ago that I've always kept with me:
It's not what happens.....It's how we deal with it...
seriously: stay on a positive note and think before you make decisions. Think to yourself, "Will this hurt anyone"? "Is this right or wrong"? "Am I making the right decision"? Ask yourself those questions.....only you are responsible for what "YOU do" remember that!
:O)
2007-09-21 01:20:35 · answer #5 · answered by dreampo 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
you should go to college. that takes 4 years. and by the time you graduate, your record will be clean. and dont say that nonsense about how you cant afford college. if you go to a state school, you can afford it by working full-time over the summer and part time during the school year. and they have this magical thing called student loans. i dont know why people complain so much about student loans. the same people would gladly take out a $20K loan to buy a new car, which goes down in value the second you drive it off the lot, rather than have $20K in student loan debt, which will allow you to making more money for the rest of your life (supposedly over $1 million vs a high school grad).
or you could just get pregnant and then you get welfare. for free!
2007-09-21 02:57:04 · answer #6 · answered by ho 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Criminal Record Search Database : http://SearchVerifyInfos.com/Help
2015-10-22 18:24:37 · answer #7 · answered by Susan 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
HOLD YOUR HEAD HIGH. You're just one who got caught. If you've got guts and are a saavy individual you can certainly be hired as a cab driver. A good cab driver makes 125 a day. Be careful as it's an addictive profession to some people. Some companies allow you to buy your own cab and operate under their co. I've had friends who owned up to 5 cabs with one company . They rarely worked as they had their cabs leased every twelve hr. shift. I hope you don't let this setback get you down. ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES and in the words of the great Yogi Berra " It ain't really over until it's over. Stay positive and don't be bitter. i love you because you are my brother. Press on THE OOOLDE HIPPY
2007-09-21 00:31:38 · answer #8 · answered by ancientcityentertainment 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
consult an atty ... see if this can be vacated or expunged.
this is very petty. shouldn't follow you / your opportunities.
try temporory office work / usually the background checks are very superficial.
i know stripping is lucrative / but I question if it demeans your psyche. I think women who do this pay a high price. it also puts them in situations that may cause them to get in more criminal trouble. i would advise against it, for our own good. look at the long term of making money / not the short term.
good luck to you.
2007-09-23 06:16:35 · answer #9 · answered by Mildred S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds to me like you handled this yourself without a lawyer. That was a mistake. There are usually lots of alternatives to a theft conviction for a first offender and such a minor theft. If you did not have counsel, it may not be too late to have this conviction vacated for a better disposition. If you cannot afford counsel, you might try to speak to the public defender in the court where you were convicted.
2007-09-21 10:30:24 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋