Asked 6/17/2016 – Richmond, TX

A few days ago I was caught taking a pair of headphones from Walmart. Stupid, I know. They later called the cops, since I was a minor (17 years old), and didn’t have an ID on me. The cops tried to let me go, saying that if I had enough money to pay for the item, they would let me go. The Walmart AP said it was Walmart policy that they had to do something and they gave me a citation. My court date is in a few weeks and this is a first time offense. I really don’t want my parent and guardians to find out so i was wondering if I could go to the court case alone? Also if i can’t, what can I do to not be fined? And lastly, will this be on my record? I’m currently looking for jobs and I don’t want this to mess up my future. Thank you.

Answer

This is a class c misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500 plus court costs. For criminal law purposes, you are an adult and can appear in court alone. This is a crime of moral turpitude, and a conviction on this case can haunt you for the rest of your life. I strongly suggest you speak with a local attorney.