A 17-year-old high schooler gets a part-time job at a warehouse, from where he steals two cases of beer. The high school students gets caught, turned over to the police and charged.According to your “logic”, this student did not steal anything, since there is no trial and conviction. There are no records of his arrest either. I know better.His attorney negotiates the following deal with the State Attorney: the student will pay restitution and court costs, stay out of trouble for 6-months, and all charges will be dismissed.
After 6 months, not only were the charges dismissed but the thief’s records were also sealed, because juvenile records are routinely sealed.