You cannot negotiate with the store to drop charges and doing so may be tantamount to new crimes.  See Penal Law section 215.  If you are indigent, you will qualify for the judge to appoint you a public defender.  There are good public defenders and bad public defenders the same way that there are good and bad private attorneys.  However, with a court appointed lawyer, you do not get to choose who represents you and are stuck with whomever the judge appoints.  Given your immigration issues, you probably do not want to leave it to chance.  Petit Larceny is a class A misdemeanor punishable up to one year in jail, $1000 fine or three years probation.  It is also a crime of moral turpitude for purposes of immigration. A conviction of Petit Larceny or an attempt to commit this crime, will result in your having a permanent criminal record that cannot be erased or expunged.  While it may be possible for your attorney to negotiate a disorderly conduct or ACD, you should discusss with whichever attorney represents you, the implications of both and how it will affect future immigration issues and international travel prior to accepting any deal.  I cannot see which county the case is pending so I cannot comment on whether the date can be advanced or what the plea bargaining guidelines in that county are.