I am 20 and got caught stealing from wal mart.They called the cops and i went to jail.

You need to find an experienced criminal trial attorney to protect your rights. While every case is unique, I imagine that as a first offense you are looking at some period of probation and possibly a fine at worst. Unless your jurisdiction is unusually tough or there are harsh facts involved in the commission of the crime I do not believe additional jail time is warranted. Be very wary of any plea offer that asks you to plead guilty in exchange for the time you have already served. This is called a time-served plea and usually results in you becoming a convicted felon. Ask your lawyer to explain in detail the plea and the implications of the plea. I would also inquire with your lawyer if your jurisdiction offers a first time offender program allowing for the case to be dropped after you complete the program. This is not available everywhere, but it is worth looking into. THESE COMMENTS ARE NOT LEGAL ADVICE. They are provided for informational purposes only. Actual legal advice can only be provided after consultation by an attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. Answering this question does not create an attorney-client relationship or otherwise require further consultation.

Did the court inquire as to your means of hiring an attorney or seeing if you qualified for a public defender? If so then it is likely that your public defender will appear at the hearing and talk to you about the case. Typically, at your first hearing with a public defender (or private attorney) present you enter a not guilty plea and you'll get a bunch of dates of pplea deadlines, record dates, and trial dates. Your attorney will work with you and the case to see if it should go to trial or if you will reach a plea deal with the State. One thing that might happen is that the conviction could be entered as a A misdemeanor given that it is your first offense, or it could remain a D Felony, that's up to the court. Again, once you have an attorney they will be able to explain all of this to you. As for sentencing ranges, a D Felony in Indiana is 6 months to 3 years, and an A misdemeanor is up to 365 days. If you have no prior offenses, then the court can consider placing you on probation instead of ordering you to serve the sentence immediately, or the court can order you to serve part of the sentence or the whole sentence. You should contact an attorney immediately. An attorney around Lawrenceburg will be better able to help you understand what goes on in the local court system in your county.

For a Class D Felony, the sentencing range is from six (6) months to three (3) years with an advisory sentence of 18 months. The fact that you got a job could help you later in the case if there is a sentencing hearing. You should consult with an attorney before your next court date to discuss your rights and review the case. The fact that this is your first criminal case is also helpful to you. Furthermore, your cooperation with law enforcement could also be considered to be a factor in your favor. Juan Garcia Jr. Attorney At Law www.garciaandcrawford.com