I broke the law............

about a year and a half ago, i found a credit card, i held it for months and one day i used it, for a couple of things. now the things i bought were not things i needed but items i tend to become obessed with. I even bought some items and took them to the salvation army, because i felt sorry for  a family with young children. about the same time i was diagnossed w/ bipolar 11, rapid cycler.
im having a difficult time in deciding what to do, i also got in trouble w/ the law (video cameras and such) when the officer asked me if i did it i said yes, he didnt arrest me and take me to jail because i was honest, but i still face consequences- jail time probation etc; the problem i keep going round and round with is how to plead part of me says belly up you broke the law, yet on the other hand, if i was the normal me, This is something i would never do i wouldnt hurt or steal from anyone yet i did. Ive been in trouble 2x's in my life once i knocked over a lamp in my house, and got a disorderly/domestic and the other time i was nailed w/ paraphanellia. im thinking of pleading not quiltty by means of mental disease, any thoughts on what i should do. this is a very troubling situation for me. any thoughts would sure help. thanks.

cherrychops

[DLA]

If this is really something that happened b/c of your bipolar disorder then I think you are justified in using this in your defense.  Only you can make this decision.  What must you do to be able to live with yourself.

I'm not trying to tell you how to plead.  It basically does come down to what you believe to be true and if you can live with that decision.  Obviously this bothers you, so think of what you'll have to deal with the rest of your life when you decide how to plead.

Good luck to you.  Will be praying for you.

[shawn47]

hi cherrychops  --  Say!  I grew up in Appleton.  Okay, nuf of that.  Wow, 1.5 years is a long time to keep an uncomfortable secret.  So, if i'm getting your drift, if you tell no one about it at this point, then no's gonna know, yes?  The perfect crime.  But the card is still viable after 1.5 years?!  Maybe they're keeping it open to see where it'll be used next.  Eh.  Okay, this is terrible advice, but it's something i'd consider.  Without involving the cops, can you return the card and do restitution to its owner plus a little on top for the indiscretion?  No bloody likely. This is a hard one and if i were in your shoes it'd be easy to dump the card some place and forget it.  But you won't forget it because you sound like a very nice person, and you will always be a nice person.  And paranoia would dog me day and night.  And, And, And,  cherrychops, my dear, my final advice would be to come clean with the cops.  Whew, there it is.  You'll be okay.  You're a nice person.  And you really do care because you're here asking what to do.  True, 1.5 years after the fact, but that's okay.  One thing I would stand on, cherrychops, is please do not pull the bipolar card -- unless it's true --  because bipolars have enough false stereotypes to deal with.  shawn