告知你的朋友,DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING AND DO NOT PAY ANYTHING without talking to an attorney.
這是該州相關行為的法律
http://www.shopliftingprevention.org/illinois-shoplifting-laws/
你的朋友麵對的是 Class A misdemeanor (Shoplifting property with a total combined value of $300 or less) 一般的處罰是 Fines up to $2,500; up to one year of imprisonment
同時店家可以究其"損失"要求賠償,一般這個部份是 $1000 到 $2500 之間
In addition to criminal penalties, an adult or emancipated minor shoplifter (or the parents or legal guardians of a minor) may be held liable in a civil lawsuit for the retail value of the stolen merchandise, damages between $100 and $1,000, attorney fees, and court costs. Liability for parents and guardians is subject to the limitations of the Parental Responsibility Law.
所以最壞的情況是你的朋友會麵對 up $5000 的罰款與一個不大不小的犯罪紀錄 (偷竊), 所以日後找工會麵對相當的問題
對了有關 record expunge 你的朋友可以看這個資料
https://www.illinois.gov/osad/Expungement/Pages/Expungement-and-Sealing-General-Information.aspx