I have a misdemeanor theft charge on my record.....?

do you think this will affect my current job search. I stole some money, pd is all back, but was still charged. This is totally out of my character and I think if people saw me and knew this they would be shocked. I was in a state of depression and desperation when I did this. I am truly ashamed and want a fresh start. What do I do if an employer does a background check and should I be upfront with them?