Theft over 1500 first crime Not guitly HELP!!

Jasonhill031 · #1 10-30-2011, 08:21 PM

I was recently accused of stealing from my employer and called into a phone conference with a loss prevention agent and my district manager. I was accused of stealing via use of fraudulent employee discounts (ie giving discounts to people who didn't qualify) and fraudulent return (returning items without a box or over the 30 day limit). I was told that this was theft and was a felony. They agreed that they wanted to keep me as an employee and didn't want to have me arrested. They offered that if i sign an admittance letter and a promissory note that i would not be fired and i would be allowed to keep my job. During the signing of the promissory note we discussed the amount and the LP agent said i should write down 5,286.49 as it was the amount of every return is ever did and every employee discount i ever gave. We were suppose to move this amount down when we figured out many returns were botched and how many employee discounts were given out wrongly. Of course i agreed to this like any trusting idiot and minutes after i sign this note (which also stated that they promised me nothing in return for this payment) the police came in a cuffed me (reluctantly i might add as they had received employee discounts and thought this was crazy). I was then charged with theft over 1500 rs 14 : 67 10b 1. I was taken to jail and the next morning given bail at 5,000. The judge decided to let me out with just a paperwork fee, since this is my first every offense ever. I'm 22 and have nothing on my record not even a traffic ticket. I feel wrong by my employer and i want to know where i legally stand. I'm going in tomorrow to meet with a lawyer the ex prosecuting attorney (wanted the best), but i know the more minds on this the better.
1. Should i pay the payment as scheduled on the promissory note or make them drag me to court and prove and amount of theft?
2. How can i avoid jail time? I'm 5"2' and white not exactly made for jail, and i really don't want to spend one more day. the first was enough.
3. Money. Plain and simple i don't have much and i don't have any family who can really help me with this. How can i get by with paying the least.
Any information that is given will be greatly appreciated. I never once thought i would find myself on this side of the law. If I'm guilty of anything is it being too nice to random strangers, and that last time i checked wasn't a crime.

Jasonhill031 · #2 10-30-2011, 08:24 PM

Copy of the promissory and admittance notes just in case you guys need to actually see them i know that can help.

moderator · #3 10-31-2011, 04:49 PM

Have you browsed through the information in LawInfo's Free Legal Resource Center to learn more about your issue yet? See: http://www.lawinfo.com/consumer.html and http://resources.lawinfo.com/en/index.html. You should certainly speak to a lawyer to determine what legal options may be available. In the meantime, you may be able to learn more on your own. Search the "Free Legal Resources" tab, or browse the Consumer Resources. Good luck.

underdog · #4 11-01-2011, 05:50 AM

1. Should i pay the payment as scheduled on the promissory note or make them drag me to court and prove and amount of theft?
That note is a legal document which you are bound to. The legal department of these employers help in the developing of such documents
2. How can i avoid jail time? I'm 5"2' and white not exactly made for jail, and i really don't want to spend one more day. the first was enough.
$1500.00 makes this a felony in most states avoiding jail is not going to be easy. In fact prison (not jail) is option for state
3. Money. Plain and simple i don't have much and i don't have any family who can really help me with this. How can i get by with paying the least.
You cant barter with courts! You best make some payment plan and stick to it to avoid further legal problems

Since you mention LP this sounds like a retail theft issue. The site below is manned by experts in retail theft they might have more answers

http://retailtheftanswers.org/