I think I really messed up! Please Help!!

some companies will ask on the app if you have any "pending charges..... something to think about

 

The company you are talking about does not do the background check, until after you attend orientation.

 

In my opinion, take care of the legal issue FIRST. I just got hired by a trucking company after looking on-line for 2 weeks first. On every application they asked "do you have any pending charges". Like others have said; lawyer up and try to get it reduced to a misdemeanor. Also, you may get hired and be way out west or other places when your court date is set. If you don't appear in court, you'll have another charge, "failure to appear". And believe me, there's NO guarantee you'll get back in time to meet that court date, even if you let your company know. The first thing they'll ask you is; "what is the appearance in court about"? Then they MAY get you back there in time, but in all likelyhood your job will be history. Good luck, partner, and get that lawyer!!!

 

There has been a lot of excellent suggestions given to you...I would follow the suggestion that you fight the felony charge to the best of your ability. I will tell you that you need the best criminal attorney that you can find in your region...preferably someone who knows the prosecutor and district attorney on a "first name basis". I have many personal contacts with Superior Court judges and I can say that a consistent theme from them is: "You can tell how sorry someone is by two things: 1) Do they turn them self in on the charge and 2) how respected is the attorney they show up in court with." Good attorneys are expensive...but if they do their job, you will have a misdemeanor charge instead of a felony. With hindsight, it will be the best money you ever spent. Most high-end attorneys will take payments because few people have the cash to just pay them up front.

I would get my attorney to contact the company which you stole from and see if they would agree to a restitution payment schedule now...before the court proceedings start. Get a local job and begin shoveling money at the restitution as fast as you can or take a loan and just pay them off (then make monthly payments on the loan). This will look very good to the DA and the court when you start making court appearances.

Even if you do not get this down to a misdemeanor, it is not the end of your trucking career...I know a number of people who were in your position that now have mortgage paid homes and a good life, from trucking, after their felony conviction. The felony just makes everything more difficult, but not impossible - if you commit to solving the problems and working hard.

 

I'll say again, considering we STILL don't know the status of the OP--he needs to fight the felony and get it reduced to a misdemeanor...period. If convicted the first go-round, appeal and try, try again. One does not want a felony on his record following him around in this day and age. A felony will follow one to the grave, even if his dying day comes 80 years from now. There are no expungements of a felony in most states. Many states won't allow expungements of misdemeanor convictions. And a misdemeanor is all it takes to keep you out of a good job today.

 

EVERYONE has given you sound advice. Talk to a lawyer to see if you can plea to a lessor charge (depending on the charge). There are a few things that carriers ask about your past record and if you give wrong or not so truthful answer to ... most companies have this type of wording, "If statements given herein are found to be given to be found not fore-coming might or will result in termination", that is the axe waiting to fall. Trucking in itself is STRESSFUL, you really don't need to add on any outside and unnecessary stress on top of it.
At least you have shown and admitted what you did was wrong and really wasn't worth screwing the company (you just mess yourself in the end) that you would like to pay them back (to square things with them)...who knows it might have a better outcome then you think.
Good Luck and Keep your chin UP.
P.S. Some companies have their own policies on Felony convictions...you might want to investigate the polices before you turn in an application. You don't want to get half way through Orientation and find out that you are stuck out in the middle of some place, without a way to get home.