What happens after i get caught stealing from walmart?

You were lucky that you weren't arrested. The letter could be a letter asking for money damages for violating a shoplifting law. In North Carolina, the shop owner is entitled to civil damages of $150. Just follow the instructions in the letter you receive, pay the fine and you should be just fine.

I disagree with the above advice. First the store could send your information to the police and Class C theft ticket could be sent to you. This criminal charge doesn;t carry a jail term but will end in a theft conviction unless you handle it properly. You will receive a letter from a law firm representing wal mart that will say either pay $xxx (usually somewhere between $100 and $400) or we'll sue you civilly and collect damages. They rarely will do so, especially over $2, but it still must be responded to. I tell clients to let me handle the matter, then contact the law firm and explain that until the criminal charges are resolved the matter needs to be put on hold. If my client desires to pay the amount the law firm seeks, then I will negotiate the amount to as low as possible, however many times the amount can be wiped out. Contact a criminal defense attorney when you get the letter and just see what they think can be done. Good luck

Additionally, you will not be arrested in Texas for Class C theft; it is a citation offense only.

First, the theft offense you committed is a class C level offense - the same level as a traffic ticket. However, unlike a traffic ticket, the consequences of a theft conviction could follow you for life. Theft is a crime of moral turpitude - indicates that you are not trustworthy. In the past few months, what has been happening more and more - probably because of low manpower in the police departments, is that people caught stealing items amounting to misdmeanors - especially class C - are released after the security officer takes all their information. This information is later provided to the police who mail a citation - ticket - to the offender requiring them to appear in either JP or municipal court. If you do not respond to the ticket then a warrant issues for your arrest and you will be required to post bond. If you receive a citation, you should try to hire a lawyer. If you cannot afford one, then you go to court and request deferred disposition - it is like a probation and generally is 6 months longs with some terms like community service and a letter of apology. At the end of the term if you have completed all of the requirements and not gotten any more tickets or arrested, then the case is dismissed. Two years later, after the statute of limitations runs, you can file a lawsuit in civil district court to expunge the matter. If you take a final conviction by just paying the fine or by violating the diversion resulting in the payment of a fine, then the conviction will remain on your record forever. You will receive a demand letter because you committed the theft. The law permits retailers to make this demand in order to pay for the expenses of trying to avoid being victims of shoplifters. Most lawyers in Houston advise clients to not bother with the demand. If you do not pay it, the demands will escalate but they cannot put the demand on your credit nor can they collect from you if you do not pay voluntarily unless they sue you - which means paying a lawyer (for more than a form demand letter), paying to file the suit, paying to have you served, etc. It becomes very costsly and they do not know even if they win whether you have money from which to collect. Whatever you do, do not just pay the fine and take a final conviction. That is bad advice.