You were caught shoplifting a CD valued at $16.99. Or you stole some money out of a neighbor’s purse while you were at her house. This type of theft is called petty theft. It is a misdemeanor but it has serious consequences. You will be charged with a misdemeanor and you will have to appear in court to face petty theft penalties. The petty theft penalties depend on where you live. However, most states have similar dispositions. The maximum for misdemeanors is usually a year in jail and a fine of $1,000. You may have to pay restitution to your victim and do community service. If this is the first time you have been arrested, you may be able to go through pre-trial diversion. This will keep the conviction off your record if successfully complete your sentence. California has a felony petty theft sentence. If you have been convicted of petty theft once, you can be charged with a felony the second time. You could spend a year in the county jail or 16 months in prison.