Legal Question in Criminal Law in Oklahoma

Yesterday, I was caught leaving a Gordman's store in Tulsa, OK with items concealed in my purse. The reason is very silly.. I had been embarrased at Christmas when my friends got me presents that were much much more expensive than the ones I managed to get for them. We had a joint birthday party for them last night, and I wanted to get them nice presents to make up for Christmas. I felt horrible in the store because I couldn't find anything nice that I could afford, so I decided to take some things instead. I left with 3 perfumes, 2 pairs of earrings and a water bottle. The total of the items was around $85.

The store security stopped me at the door and took me back to the security room. He filled out a report and called the police department. Both the security and the police were very nice, I think it was because they could tell how absolutely terrified I was. They even let me buy a few of the things I had tried to take after we were finished in the office (I could only afford the earrings and water bottle). The security man told me I can't go to any Gordman's stores anymore because it can be considered trespassing. The police gave me a ticket and told me I have to appear in court in three weeks. They said it was a misdemeanor. Also, they took my fingerprint on one of the pages.. does that implicate anything?

Will this offense be going on my record? Will it be permanent? What do I need to do in court?

I am a 20 year old female, and I have no previous history of anything aside from a couple speeding tickets that were like 8 or 9 mph over the speed limit. I am in the process of applying to nursing school for the fall, and my goal is to become a pediatric Nurse Practitioner. I am so so nervous that this stupid mistake will keep me from continuing in school! Please let me know how seriously this will affect me.


Asked on 1/25/10, 1:41 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Jay Ramey Jay K. Ramey, Attorney at Law

At your first court appearance, you will not need to do much. The judge is going to ask if you have an attorney, and when you tell him no, he is going to pass your case for about 30 days for you to return with an attorney. If you hire an attorney before the first court date, he can call in and take care of your first court appearance by phone, and you will not need to appear (This is if the case is in Tulsa Municipal Court, as it sounds like it is)

There is a chance you can prevent this case from becoming a conviction on on your record. But you need an attorney that knows what he is doing. (you need a criminal defense attorney, not a probate attorney that happens to be a friend of your Dad's)

You are also going to get letters from a "Bennett Law Firm" that is going to make demands that you pay and try to scare you into paying. This is a scam, and you need an attorney to deal with them as well.

The fingerprint the police took is for identification purposes only and does not implicate anything.

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Answered on 1/31/10, 7:58 pm


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