I am an ex-employee of a food business who left on not so good terms 8 months prior after serving 3 yrs of employment. My employment ended regarding personal issues beween myself and the store manager. (nothing criminal).
On the date of 4/27/2008 I entered Little Caesars Pizza as a friend of a customer and 3 other friends and left without any altercation between myself and the establishment. I received a call from our local police dept. the following day and was charged with Theft 5th because an employee in the back of the store claimed that I took a pizza dip sauce (76 cents) and Criminal Trespass for walking in and out of the store when I was unknowing not allowed in. If I was ever told to leave that would be a non-issue with no drama.
According to the police report when my employment ended I was told not to return to the store which I do not recall.I have been to the store 3 times prior to the incident and talked to the co-general manager of the store in a friendly manner and was never asked to leave the premises including the cited above date. I do not have any physical proof i.e. reciepts but one of the accusers(co-manager) can account for that as well as ex/current employees that will tesify on my behalf that I entered/exited the store without issue and I was never asked to leave.
Regarding the Theft 5th of the sauce, an employee in the back of the store claimed that I took a sauce worth of 76 cents and put it in my pocket. (The pants I wear... impossible. The only time I approached where the sauce was is when I talked to the cashier whom I knew from when I worked at the establishment. I have talked to the cashier and she can testify that she did not see me take any sauce but she is very flakey and I am worried she will not show up to court. Subpoena?
I am in the process of joining the National Guard right now and I am not able to advance any further until the tickets are resolved and this has hindered me by a month and a half. IF I WAS KNOWINGLY GUILTY OF THESE CHARGES I WOULD PAY THE TICKETS AND MOVE ON. This is not about money for the tickets but the principle of the matter of these faulted accusations. Not a day goes by that I get very aggravated that these silly charges are delaying my service to my Country.