Hi Reddit,

I was on a bridge over a highway late at night one night. The bridge was fenced all the way around and I climbed on top of it. Where I lived in Texas at the time, there were no cool views like in movies, so I would climb up here to get a view of downtown and to listen to music and be all emo and blog or whatever. Someone saw me on the top of the bridge, called the cops, told them I was going to jump, and the cops of course responded. I saw the cops arrive while I was up on the bridge and I immediately started my way back down as I had no intention of causing a ruckus. To my surprise, I was handcuffed and had to spend the night in jail. I paid I think about $500 to be bailed out and $200 just to get my belongings back. I was appointed a court date to be heard for "criminal trespassing" and eventually found myself a lawyer (for another $500). This lawyer went with me to court, approached the bench before my hearing even started, whispered to the judge, and the case was then dismissed. This all took place on the hearing day in a matter of less than 10 minutes. I was completely sober on the night of the arrest and had no intent to harm myself or harm others. It took longer for me to drive to the courthouse than to actually sit in it.

I received some letters shortly after and found that, while my case was dismissed, I would have to pay yet another $500 to get it expunged, and could only do it in person at the courthouse as there was plenty of paperwork to fill out. I no longer live in Texas and I never filed for the expungement. This was all about seven years ago now.

My job moved me to California shortly after all of that occurred. I have now recently interviewed for a new job and attested to my "criminal trespassing" case before having my background check conducted. After receiving the results of my background check (upon my request), I found that no infractions appeared and my record was completely clean.

My questions are: Do I still need to get my case expunged, or has some sort of statute of limitations cleared it? Also, I feel like I was wrongly incarcerated and the incredibly quick turnaround of the not-even-a-real-hearing hearing is proof of this. Is there a way that I can get my money back for having to get bailed out, and for paying just to get my Super Mario messenger bag and headphones back?

Sorry if this all sounds trivial. I just really hate that this all happened and I want the state to pay me back for my lost time and money (that jail cell was horrid and a man literally shat himself next to me).

Thanks either way.