Commerce, TX Criminal Defense Law Firms & Lawyers

It depends on what t you admitted to when you wrote the statement. You could be prosecuted but it is possible that it will be handled civilly with restitution. I t is extremely wise for you to be prepared to pay back the loss ($1000) immediately if you get the opportunity. This may not be possible but it would be much less expensive than having to pay it back and still have court fines, court costs, probation fees, attorney fees and a criminal probation and possibly a criminal record. 

As you no doubt are aware, the First Amendment protects freedom of expression. However, constitutional rights are always subject to a balancing test. For example, you have the right to free speech but not the right to incite a riot. You have the right to freedom of movement for travel but we still have traffic laws.Most schools have dress policies. If the school you attend is private, you may have less rights than a public school student because you choose to attend the private school and they have certain rules in exchange.In public and private schools, dress codes have been litigated on occasion. A student breaks the dress code by making a statement. He gets disciplined or suspended, he has a right to a hearing, and the First Amendment may get brought up in the hearing. Student may lose the hearing, and then it is a matter of student suing the school district in court. So of course you have a right to freedom of expression as guaranteed by the First Amendment but if you break the school dress code, there may be consequences.

The answer to your question is simple on the surface: insist that you want to represent yourself. Most courts will reluctantly let you do it, but it is really dangerous for you. You will lose your drivers license, have a permanent record for a crime and have to put it on many applications in the future (like apartment rental agreements, bank applications and more). When stopped by police they will see it and it may cause problems. For non-citizens it is a particular problem for immigration. Many counties have simple diversion programs that are not expensive and keep the crime from becoming recorded as a conviction. At least it would be wise to listen to an attorney to see what your options are.