LEGAL problems. fine; tell me if this is true?

I was with my friend around Thanksgiving in Macy's and she was caught shoplifting. I got charges because they said i was some form of accomplice or something; but if i took this one class and payed for it that i would get the fine and after it was payed my record would be clear.

"Clear" as in i still have the charge so if i somehow got charged again they would know it was my second offense. They said that since i took the class, if i was applying for a job that i could check "no" when it asked if i have ever been convicted of a crime. Were they bullshitting me or is it true? Can they lie to me like that? I heard a bunch of shady things about it and i just wanted to know because i am applying for a job and i don't wan tit to show up.

The guy at the class said it was off my record and it wouldn.t
So should i trust it? I'm just paranoid.

When a company does a background check, either a criminal history is ran or an arrest record is checked. These are two different things.
You took a diversion, which means you payed a hefty amount of $ for this information to not be on your criminal history. It won't.
However, your arrest record is for life. It's information that is kept at the local jail. Every time you are booked, it is recorded in the jails files. Employers generally don't do this type of check unless it's local and sometimes not even then because it involves more leg work and $.
Also, I wouldn't worry too much about either way because shoplifting is a misdemeanor. Most employers only ask about felonies.

take a chance you have nothing to lose

I would say this is not true. If you have been charged then this will stick for ever - and will come up in every back ground check as attended class and paid the fine. so i dont think this is a slight thing. if any prospective employers in your state asks you for a reference check you will not be able to produce a clean record in this case.

Were you an accomplice? Did you accept the charges?
If you have accepted the charges You have to believe them .If not and you are innocent .Take it to the box.

If it's truly off your record, it won't show up if you go to the courthouse in the county in which you were charged and look yourself up. I'd recommend doing that (or you can call the courthouse possibly). If they don't find you, it's probably not on your record.

I suspect Macy's has their own database of offenders and you're still on it, so they'll know it's the second time and you won't get off as easily. I don't think the guy (assuming you mean instructor) at the class would lie to you, especially if he works for the court system, but call the courthouse and find out.

It may still show up that you were charged in the past, because it sounds like the class was a way for you to not be formally sentenced with jail time, fees, community service, etc. Unfortunately, background checks usually don't show that the charge was dismissed, and if it does, there's not enough room to give the details that you weren't the one who committed the crime in the first place. Have an attorney in your area check your record, and if the charge still appears, have it expunged if you can. It may cost you a small fee, but it's better than having to awkwardly explain to an employer that no, you didn't shoplift. Your friend did. Because more than likely, they won't buy it.