[Thefacta]

Hey community,

I am new here. but glad to see the strong support here and hope to contribute as well!

I have a few questions. I have done tons of research so I am just curious what some of your opinions/experiences are.

I finish my Master’s in Accounting this December and am hoping to start the Becker review course in January, thereby sitting for all my tests by mid-year. Is this what many students do?

I also have a Class-C misdemeanor I got when I was 17. I was arrested for stealing a drink and a snack at a local grocery store. Theft under $50. It was a very dumb mistake, I was impatient and just walked out with them. I know I need to disclose this but I was wondering if I should wait until the end of the year when it could be expunged or if I have a good chance of getting my application accepted with the misdemeanor on my record. Like I said, I would like to start Becker in Jan and I am afraid if I wait to send my application after its expunged, I might not get it accepted before I start Becker or the first cpa section exam.

For what it’s worth, I have a 3.8GPA in grad school and graduated Cum Laude in undergrad while in many organizations and all that. I did my internship at a Big 4 and received a full-time offer.

Has anybody heard or had any experiences with applying with certain misdemeanors (theft)? I am worried sick!!

REG - 81 (2/2)
BEC - 87 (2/28)
FAR - 76 (4/18)
AUD - 75 (5/20)

[Vince]

I dont know if its state law or not, but in GA, any records under the age of 18 are sealed and cant be accessed by outside people. Have you checked to see if your record is in fact visible?? I believe misdemeanors are ok, I heard DUI didnt hold you back. Sorry if I couldnt help much but its my input.

FAR (Feb. '10) - 83
REG (Apr. '10) - 88
BEC (May '10) - 79
AUD (Aug '10) - 80

[Thefacta]

unfortunately Vince, in TX you are considered an adult at 17. The Texas State Board also clearly states “17 and older” offense to be listed. I got the open records and it doesn't even say what class misdemeanor but I can only assume Class C.

It stated:

Muncipal Records for:

(my name)

P4029*** issued 3/2*/2004 Theft $0-$50; Final-Dismissed Deferred Disposition 5/2*/2004.

Does this mean I was convicted but dismissed with deferred?

REG - 81 (2/2)
BEC - 87 (2/28)
FAR - 76 (4/18)
AUD - 75 (5/20)

[Anonymous]

Thefacta

here is a link to a website that explains the situation. If it were me – I would go and discuss it with a lawyer – just to make sure you were correct in how you are reppresenting yourself. It would not cost much and you would have the assuarance that you were not creating trouble for your self down the road. I can tell you you don't want to try to clean up a misuderstanding that a wrong step could create. You are at the start of your career. It would be worth a visit to a lawyer to know how to legally and ethically handle your situation. It may turn out to be better than you think. Good luck! We all have all done things in our past that given the chance we might have acted differently or re-thought the situation. Many of us just did not get caught.

https://blog.austindefense.com/2007/02/articles/probation-jail-and-prison/deferred-disposition-vs-deferred-adjudication-in-texas/

[Thefacta]

Wow, that is a great link. I see the difference now between adjudication and disposition. Looks like I am on the better side of the fence.

I am currently speaking with two lawyers about it. I don't plan on doing anything suspect, my main question is whether I should wait to have it expunged (and maybe push back testing dates further) or send in my App of Intent while it is being expunged (and of course disclosing the misdemeanor.) I wanted to start Becker in January and I hear both the expuncment process and the application will take approx 4 months in Texas which will leave me starting 3 months late.

What do you think?

REG - 81 (2/2)
BEC - 87 (2/28)
FAR - 76 (4/18)
AUD - 75 (5/20)

[Anonymous]

Thefacta

Not sure – I would hate to give you bad advice. When youtalk to the lawyer he/she will be able to tell you. You may want to send a link to the TSBPA or email the application to them. Let them look it over and make a determination. Most people on this site are helpful – but this is too important for inexpereinced folks to really know what your obligations are. When I have legal questions I ask my brother who is a lawyer – he either answers it ormy question or sends me to a specialist in the area of the law that I have a question about.

Good luck!

[financeguy]

You have to disclose any misdemeanors in TX just to sit for the exam? I think you should be fine to sit for the exam…you would need to disclose this when you apply for the license

AUD - 81, BEC - 74, 80, FAR - 82, REG - 81
Done!

[magic_8_ball_did_i_pass]

I was thinking the same thing financeguy…i dont remember any thing like that on the illinois application….i dont think???

IL - BECKER=============> DONE
REG - 80; FAR - 65,79; AUD - 53,78; BEC - 71,68, 75 (used becker and yaeger for 3rd BEC)Ethics 95

I'M GONNA CELEBRATE AND LIVE MY LIFE SAYING AYE OH BABY LETS GO!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Thefacta

What did the lawyer say? Does the thing get expunged and go away forever?

[Anonymous]

You have to disclose any marks regarding any criminal and civil background before being cleared to take the exam due to the state's increased focus on ethics.

More importantly, what combination of food and drink in a convenience store adds up to $50?

[Thefacta]

To everybody else who was curious- both of the lawyers felt it would be best to have it expunged first, but they also don't think it will affect the application status since it isn't something extremely serious. Once it is expunged, it goes away forever and I will not have to disclose it at all.

Magic8Ball & financeguy- Texas has the hardest restrictions for the CPA. Fortunately, if you earn your CPA in Texas, you can have it transferred to any state with no problem, whereas vice versa is not the case (people who want to become CPAs in Texas who were CPAs in other states often have to jump through hoops and/or fulfill more background checks/requirements in order to earn their Texas license.

eh, 708b1B- your attention to detail is so bad that I am going to ignore your post. As a matter of fact, I am surprised you are even going the CPA route considering your incapability to read and respond. To begin, the question here is not whether I need to disclose but whether people would expunge this before applying to sit for the CPA. Secondly, Theft Under $50 is a classification and does not mean I had to have a combination of food and drinks worth $50. It means you can steal $.01, $1 or even $10 worth of good since it's under $50. Hence, “theft UNDER $50.” Another side note, I mentioned a grocery store, not a convenience store.

REG - 81 (2/2)
BEC - 87 (2/28)
FAR - 76 (4/18)
AUD - 75 (5/20)

[potatogun]

Thefacta, chill…

Although I did find it amusing that the question about $50 was prefaced with “more importantly”.

FAR 92 - AUD 91 - REG 94 - BEC 86

[financeguy]

Just food for thought…

Obviously lawyers are going to advise you to get it expunged…who do you think will get it expunged? That is right, a lawyer. More money for them.

I find it very hard to believe that you would be denied a cpa license for petty theft.

AUD - 81, BEC - 74, 80, FAR - 82, REG - 81
Done!

[Thefacta]

Hahaha.

Definitely FinanceGuy, I couldn't help but think that these lawyers of course would want me to get it expunged first. But it sure would suck if I went ahead and submitted my application and had it denied…

REG - 81 (2/2)
BEC - 87 (2/28)
FAR - 76 (4/18)
AUD - 75 (5/20)

[Anonymous]

I disagree with your comment, because I went to the Derek Zoolander School for Kids Who Want to Learn to Read Good and Do Other Things Good Too.

I like how you said you were going to ignore my post then proceeded to respond in full detail.

Good luck with the application.

[Vince]

Yep, my ex-roommate in college was charged for the same thing. He learned his lesson for taking my bedsheets.

FAR (Feb. '10) - 83
REG (Apr. '10) - 88
BEC (May '10) - 79
AUD (Aug '10) - 80

[Author]

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