Asked on Aug 25th, 2012 on Expungements - Pennsylvania
More details to this question:
My friend asked me to go to Wal-Mart with her so I did. Well she starts putting thing in her purse and tells me to keep quiet. I have never shoplifted and never will...well we (meaning her and I had to go with) were caught. Little did I know is that she snuck in two items into my bag. We each got a ticket from the police. How do I take this off my record?
Go to court and tell your story to the prosecutor and try to get a hyta or advisement plea. Pay the required restitution and court costs. Get a new friend!
YOU DON'T. You go to court to fight it. How could she possibly "sneak" items in YOUR bag? You'll need her to testify that YES she "snuck" those items in your bag . . . and that you DIDN'T KNOW about them.
You should hire an attorney to represent you in court and get the charge reduced to a lesser offense. If you have already pleaded guilty (without an attorney representing you), it's possible that an attorney can withdraw your guilty plea and negotiate a plea bargain with the prosecutor to get the charge reduced. If you have already pleaded guilty and the conviction for stealing/theft/shoplifting has been entered on your criminal record (and you don't get the guilty plea withdrawn) then you will not be able to expunge the conviction.
If you have been convicted of felony theft it will not be subject to expunction. It seems like you committed retail theft that is likely a misdemeanor at most. This is subject to expunction after time elapses. You may be able to have the charge pardoned as well. You should consult with and retain an arttorney.
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