I stole a pack of gum from my work 10 years ago and it's been slowly unfolding for the last few years...

I stole a pack of gum from my work 10 years ago. In no way was I, or am I now, a thief. I just wanted a piece of gum. I didn't have any money with me, I was only making $10/h at the time, and I didn't want to be late for work (I was already running pretty close), so I just took a pack of gum and left. It was the dumbest thing I've ever done.<br><br>That night, they caught me on camera (and I, of course, had no idea), and fired the girl I worked with who was an actual thief. Several months later, the police called me and asked if I had any idea why I was wanted for shoplifting, but told them I bought everything I took and they never got back to me.<br><br>Fast forward to 2 years ago when I was applying for a job. I knew I was getting the job, but they told me they were holding it up because of a background check issue. I asked them what the problem was and they told me it said I had a warrant out for my arrest for shoplifting. Of course, I told them I had no idea because I had never been arrested or otherwise contacted. Several months later, the police called me again. I told them the same thing and they told me to just pay and that would be the end of it. This time, it was only $50 - a small price to pay for my dumb mistake. So I went to the court, paid, and was told it was done. I have never been arrested or taken to jail for this or any other crime.<br><br>Now, I am applying for graduate school and went to get a criminal background check. Guess what? It says I've got an outstanding warrant. So I went down to the courthouse and found out that I have to pay some sort of fee or something there for the warrant, on top of what I paid to have the case judged. I was told it was a relatively small amount, but asked if I could just pay it now. They told me that they couldn't help me where I was, but that I could pay it there and then have it sent to the county where I was charged, or I could just go there and pay and that would be that. I was too busy to go to the other county, so I paid and have been assured that it will be finalized there and is the end of it.<br><br>I have never been arrested. I have never been to jail. But I stole a pack of gum and it has now cost me at least $55 (I was told that the court will now send that paperwork there), and I got no gum. I am now going on 10 years on this and I am quite honestly too lazy to go to the other county and pay it, so I am relying on this woman who seems to know what she's doing to take care of it and write it off. But I have done nothing, and yet this dumb decision affects me to this day. Don't steal. Godspeed.