Legal Question in Civil Litigation in California

You should re-post on "Criminal law". You will be asked how you plead, you should not plead if you want a public defender but rather ask for one. Do not plead guilty. See if you can work out a deal with the store you stole from and with the DA for a non-criminal determination, infraction.

You should be given copies of the paperwork that you are going to be charged with, along with the prosecutor's copy of basic discovery to you, and a request for discovery from you. You will be asked if the name listed on the charging papers is your true name.

You may have to listen to an audiotape explain your rights, including the procedure for continuing arraingment and asking for appointment of the public defender, or obtaining a private attorney.

If you want to be arraigned, your ask how you plead. If you plead guilty or nolo contendre, you will be sentenced there. If not, and you plead not guilty, the case will be set for the next hearing.

First you should either retain an attorney and have the attorney go to court with you, or request that the court appoint an attorney to represent when your case is called. Talking with the store owner or manager is a bad idea. Anything you say to the store owner etc. can be used to prosecute you.