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ORANGEBURG -- “Welcome to McDonald’s.  May I take your order?”  What came after those words forever changed Denise Hickson’s life.

On August 31, 2008, Hickson took Teresa Dell’s order.  Dell was McDonald’s corporate employee.

“Ms. Dell for some reason became suspicious and she thought Ms. Hickson was giving her an inappropriate and undeserving employee discount,” said attorney Carl B. Grant.

The amount in question was $2.89.

Right before Dell came into the fast-food chain, Hickson says she had given one of her employees a meal discount.

“Everyday this crew person orders the same thing, a double cheeseburger with three slices of bacon, and iced mocha, and he got a hot chocolate,” said Hickson.

Those items were clearly listed on the receipt, which Hickson says she put behind the counter.  Surveillance video shows that when Hickson turns around to fill the customer’s order, Dell reaches behind the counter and puts the ticket in her purse.

Three days later, Hickson was arrested and walked out of the place she’d worked for 16 years in handcuffs.

“I was upset, I was frustrated, and I was like from all that time I had been working there, why would they do something like that to me?” said Hickson.

A year-and-half later, Hickson got to share her side of the story.

Hickson case was tried in magistrate court because the offense was under a $1,000.  The Orangeburg County Solicitor’s office did not pick up the trial for that reason, however, the county solicitor James Walsh did.  Walsh was hired as a private attorney by McDonald’s.

WACH FOX talked to James Walsh about the case, but he refused to comment.

“When you look at the evidence presented to the jury, I’m really of the opinion that even if Ronald McDonald was on the jury, he would find her not guilty,” said Grant.

Hickson was acquitted of the charge, but her life will never be the same.  Although she has found part-time work, she says it’s not as much as she was making at McDonald’s.

Hickson and her attorney are considering filing a civil lawsuit against McDonald’s.