What is a petty theft?

Petty theft charge? what will happen ?

• Ok before I start, no lectures or rude comments please. The person who did it knows it was wrong. Anyway, my boyfriend back before Xmas was at kohls with me and I had a gift card to get something, so I was shopping. I noticed that my bf was gone and I tried calling him for like 20 min. So I was getting worried, long story short, after I bought my earrings, as I was walking out I saw him walking out of the store with a few cops blocking my way to get out. The cop came up to me and told me he had stolen one of those clear plastic earring backs. Believe me I yelled at him after lol bc I have some at our house. Anyway, the cops wernt all too mad, they didn't arrest him or anything, they just forbid him to come into kohls again. They said he would get a letter in the mail. Well he did in like Jan. Or so and they just said pay a 200 dollar fine and we will forget it ever happened. They even let him pay it in 50 dollar payments since he is unemployed every winter bc he is a farmer. Well just last month in April we got a letter without an envelope between our door saying he had to appear in court for that case. So he went in and did like a pre hearing where they just ask you guilty or not guilty and do you want a lawer, and you come back at a later day for you actual court trial. He goes in tmrw for his real hearing. Well he was charged with petty theft and gets a public defender. My question is, what do you think will happen? He has a clean record and is 20 almost 21, is sincerely sorry and is a hard working man as a farmer. I know petty theft is up to 6 months in jail and $1000 fine, but do you think he will get that for stealing a less then 10 cent item? Even though he paid the fee they wanted. Please let me know. again please nothing rude, it will never happen again.

• Answer:

  He will probably need to pay restitution, and then be put on probation. I bet that his court costs will be about $1,000.00 and it will be on his record, if found guilty. You may consider a different relationship.