Legal Question in Criminal Law in Pennsylvania

prayer for judgement on petty theft in PA & a few other questions

A friend and I were in WalMart, she put some DVD's in my bag without my awareness. She went in the bathroom and asked for my bag, I wasn't thinking so I just gave it to her, I left the bathroom, the lady said I needed to come with her.

I'm being convicted for petty theft and we're banned from WalMart (is there a way to appeal this?)...the thing is, I'm not the one that put the DVD's in my bag, I wasn't slicing them open with a razor blade in the bathroom, but apparently I'm an accomplice because I was with her (I had no idea what she was doing, though I admit it seemed fishy).

This is my first offense, does PA offer a Prayer for Judgement? Is there anyway to get this off of my record, especially since I really was unaware of the entire situation? It was by technicality that I was convicted (possession) I'm in college and will be looking for a job in a few years and I wouldn't like this to be there when I graduate.

The officer who spoke to us was very nice, though the WalMart employees were very hostile and wouldn't let me explain anything. My friend said several times that it was her fault but they would have none of it.

If I cannot recieve a prayer for judgement, what are some other options?

Thank you


Asked on 9/09/06, 9:43 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Charles A. Pascal, Jr. Law Office of Charles A. Pascal, Jr.

Re: prayer for judgement on petty theft in PA & a few other questions

First of all, be thankful you're banned from Walmart. You don't want to go there anyway. The way they treated you is the way they treat everyone...their employees, customers, etc.

You're probably banned from Walmart because you signed some sort of paper at the insistence of Walmart employees at the time of the incident or in court agreeing to the ban. If you signed it, you signed it. I advise my clients not to sign it.

Now to your problem, Walmart is typically not open to alternative resolutions to these problems, and DA's usually do what the "victim" wants.

Have you already been convicted? If not, go to the hearing, explain it to the judge, have your friend back up your story, and hope the judge is having a good day.

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Answered on 9/14/06, 10:21 am


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