Legal Question in Criminal Law in Texas

Hi, I was caught shoplifting at walmart (an $10 item) and a lady approached me and asked me to walk with her and if I knew why I had been stopped, I have never ever in my life committed a crime of any type, so I became nervous and immediately knew what it was about and I told the lady that I was sorry and that I knew why she had stopped me that I would returrn and pay for what I had dumbishly taken (I was going through a rough time didn't know what I was thinking) but anyway, she took me to the back office where she asked me for an id and to empty out my purse, I willingly emptied it and gave her back the item, asked why I did it and if I wanted to see the video, she then scans my id and of course my record came back clear, she made me sign this paper that I can't remember what it was due to the fact that I felt to nervous and embarrassed, shealso took a picture of me and I even told her I would pay for the item right there with her, but she said it was up to me and I had to go back to the store and go to register to pay it, she was in some way nice and the cops were never called and even told me that I was not gonna be shun from walmart but that they keep close attention if they ever saw me there. I was very worried about that going on my record on being prosecuted so I asked the lady what to expect, so she confidently told me I was luckily just being verbally reprimanded and thatthis wouldn't affect me in any way but if I ever did it again they wouls have to take legal action which is totally understandable and she let me go..days later I had to leave the city and when I came back there were 2 letters in the mail from law firm representing walmart, the first one had apparently gotten there before stated that I had to pay a civil penalty of $200 within 10 days, but since I was away I obviously couldn't reply so then the second letter had arrived after the 10 days in which that penalty had jumped to $550 , I was perplexed by gods sake....then the next morning I go to walmart and speak w loss prevention (the lady that caught me wasn't there) and they gave all this bill that they couldn't tell me that because its not within their jurisdiction and that I had to call the law firm so I call these guys and they we're to begin rude and unwilling, in a way I understand the're doing their job, but I pretty much begged them to help me out and that I was willing to cooperate but I couldn't pay for this, all they told me was to make installments on the $550 or show proof that I wasn't here to reply to the first letter which 8 really can't because I travelled by car...I'm really scared and don't know what to do and I definitely can't pay for that...please h


Asked on 12/15/10, 10:48 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Mark Dunn Mark D. Dunn

I think you've learned a lesson from this: Don't let people buffalo you. Don't let people intimidate you. Don't let strangers scare you into doing something stupid. Don't sign anything, ever, unless you fully understand it and have read it ... even if you've done something wrong. You have let these people make you do things, and now it's too late.

Stop being gutless, and stop talking to these Nazis at Wal-Mart. DON'T TALK TO THEM, EVER, NO MATTER WHAT. Don't pay them any money. Don't return a phone call from them. If they get you on the phone somehow, tell them to go to hell, and then HANG UP.

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Answered on 12/21/10, 6:35 am


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