Is there any way to get a theft charge off my record?

I was accused of shoplifting and I tried to explain to the officer what could have happened but she refused to accept my explanation. It was a shirt that was marked down to $4 but the manager put down on paper its original value of $18 and it wasn't even my size and the store is filing a civil suit and the officer in a way forced me to admitt to it and treated my like a criminal she handcuffed me right away and was aggressive with me. Im guessing they have no cameras or they would have looked at them and there were no witnesses my friends tried to vouch for me but the manager wouldnt hear it the only thing for sure is that they found it in my bag. Is it possible to fight this suit? I was planning on just calling their lawyers and paying the fine they tell me to pay and not go to court because im a full time college student and I have a part time job so I dont have time. I just want to know if after I pay is there anyway to get it off my record?