Petty larceny

I'm being charged with petty larceny and I have a Desk Appearence soon. If I've never been in trouble with the law before and admit to my mistake and agree to pay the money back gladly, what is my likely punishment to be? Is there a chance I'd have to do jail time? I'm very scared and would love to get a reply as quickly as possible. Please help me

Make sure you get legal counsel (or at least the public defender) to try to keep this off your record eventually--jail time is not likely if your record is clear now. But having that arrest and/or a conviction on your record could make job-hunting etc. more difficult. Often this could be negotiated down to some kind of court supervision or even be dismissed etc. If it eventually appears it cannot be negotiated down, or you need to discuss this in more detail with senior counsel to review options etc., please let us know...

When I went to my desk appearence, they told me the DA wasn't ready to prosecute my case and if I didn't get a letter telling me when to come back within 90 days then that meant the DA wasn't going to prosecute my case. If that happens, does it mean that its over? Will I have a record? Will I have an arrest record for the rest of my life? And If I do, do I have to put down that I've been arrested when I apply for future employment? Please help me, I'm hopelessly confused.

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Call the DA's office now or after that time passes and ask if the entire record is now sealed. If not have legal counsel intervene and try to get it sealed.