Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

You won't work again, and the next time you steal it'll be a felony.

Retain an attorney to represent you or go to court plead not guilty and request the appointment of an attorney to represent you. Ask the attorney about the availability of a shoplifting diversion. If the amount taken is less than $50 the charge can be reduced to an infraction.

The DA will try to convict you of a misdemeanor.

What can you do? Defend the charges. Go to court, enter a not guilty plea, arrange bail reduction or OR, set up and attend the court hearing[s] and trial date[s]. File evidence suppression or other motions as applicable. Raise all the available defenses with whatever admissible and credible witnesses, evidence and facts are available for legal arguments for motions, plea bargaining, or at trial. Go to trial if it can't be resolved with motions or a plea bargain. There is no magic wand to wave and make it all disappear. If you don't know how to do these things, then hire an attorney that does, who will try to get a decent plea bargain for you. If serious about doing so, feel free to contact me. I�ll be happy to help you use whatever defenses you may have.