sarkissian@... asked this question on 4/30/2000:
Hi Poe,I just was arrested for trying to take money from work.
You see, I work at Universal studios Hollywood as a parking lot ticket seller.
Ever car that enters to park their car they have to pay $7.00.
I got hold of blank tickets about 100 of them. Took them home and by using my printer I duplicated a copy of the same ticket that we sell at work.
Then I took them to work, and sold them and tried to take the money at the end of the day.
But, they got me red handed and found 80 unsold tickets on me. But they did not find the money that I had already collected. I was still in the cash register.
They booked me and charged me for burglary. And told me that it is a felony.
They put me in jail until my parents put a bail for $15,000. And I promised to appear in court on May 23rd 2000.
Since, I have never been arrested before I have no criminal record. What , in your expert opinion do you think will happen to me. I am scared!!! Do you think the judge will put me in jail or will he give me probation?
Please get back to me. Thanks. ARA
P.S. I am 28 and live in LA, California. My e-mail address is Sarkissian@mailcity.com
Poe gave this response on 5/1/2000:
first thing you need to do is get an attorney--and FAST. the fact that your bail was so high is not a good thing. I am not real familiar with CA law, but you could get probation. It depends on how hard the place you worked for, as well as the DA is willing to push it. As I said, the high bail is not a good sign. Also, bear in mind that because of what you did, or rather the way you went about doing it, you could be subject to more charges if they wanted to push it. You committed theft by fraud in selling bogus tickets. In some states you could be subject to embezzlement charges--even if the money was still in the register because your intent can be clearly shown. You also broke copyright laws by duplicating the tickets without permission, and if the tickets had any bogus signatures, then that's forgery. Also, it isn't a great idea to admit, even on the internet that you committed the crime(s). Who knows, with the way things work today in the legal system, they could try to hold it against if the statement is found and proven to be yours. Don't under any circumstances, talk to oir admit anything to the cops until you've spoken to a lawyer--that little thing in the miranda warning(the rights read to you) really is true-they will use anything you say against you. I hope this helps and I wish you the best of luck--Get AN ATTORNEY--quick!