victim of revenge

In 1986, Kansas City Missouri, I endorsed a check written to me by a friend who owed me money. He was leaving town and it was my last chance for re-embursement as I saw it. I did not have a checking account so I took it to a check cashing office.
Before I knew it there were police all around and I found myself arrested and charged with forgery! I got a lawyer and he suggested I plead guilty to a lesser charge that he had plea bargained. Unfortunately, the judge put me on probation and
community service that I failed to complete. I had never been it trouble before this and in the fourteen years since. Last friday
my nephew ran away to my home(I am married with an 11 yr. &
6yr old) and I took him in with the stipulation that the next day he get a message to his mom(who hates me because i'm her x-husbands sister). right after we got the message out the police were at the door and I was arrested on this 14yr old warrant.
She used her knowledge to have me arrested on this warrant.
I am charged with a bad check under $150 but I am afraid the judge with revert the old forgery charge back on and my kids will be left alone since my husbands business takes him out of town all week. Can you Help me understand the reality of this?

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

My response:

What is it about your "reality" that you're not understanding ?

You're a criminal. You're not a "victim" of anything, let alone revenge. You have been a fugitive from justice. You failed to pay your debt to society. That's it in a nutshell. It's the same as if you broke out of jail. You can't be trusted.

You're going to prison. Simple.

IAAL

Well, that was sobering. Is there no option to prison?
Would not the judge consider the extreme hardship that my family would incur as a result of my being taken out of my family?
I have been a responsible person with no other incidents. I am
really scared and am looking for some way to redeem myself.
Any comment or suggestion will be respectfully considered.

Yes there are options to prison. Home detention, community service, probation, serving weekend in jail, ect. Altho IAAL is a very wise man the chances that you are going to prison are slim, not to say that it can't happen. I hate to say it but you best bet is to get a lawyer.

If you can't afford one apply for a public defender. Are you still in Kansas City? If you are and can't find it, e-mail me and I'll get the number for you. (I'll have to make a few calls.)