What is the name of your state?California
I am 38 years old and before 2001, had no record. In late 90's I got addicted to vicodin and subsequently to heroin. I began committing theft crimes to support my habit....I first was convicted of (1)forgery and (2)fraud, (3)receiving stolen property and within that same time, one count of (4)petty theft and one (5)possession of a controlled substance was run concurrently with those initial charges. In all, I served 4 months. In 2003 I was convicted of my 2nd petty theft for the second of the two counties I was on probation in. I served 6 months and was given 5 year felony probation.
Last month I was pulled over in a third county and charged with possession of a controlled substance. The preliminary offer was 16 months or a possible year in a program. The case was held over until I went to court in county #2 for another possession charge, but this time I was charged with a possession for sales, given the quantity and way the drug was individually wrapped in dime sacks. I was not selling and never have. I was supposed to go to court yesterday to be arraigned but I chose to miss court ,despite my knowing there would n
ow be a warrant for my arrest..I simply couldn't take the chance that I would be remanded into custody for violating my probation by receiving this new charge.
Is that what would have likely happened? Now what should I do? If I get into a program, will that perhaps be my sentence or will time in jail be mandatory? Prison time? Would I have been remanded into custody for violating my probation? I know that violators usually are held with no bail. I want to know if I should get a private attorney and how much retainer is approximately needed. I have lots of questions but mainly want to know what I am facing.
Thanks for your help with my questions.
Shauna
I am 38 years old and before 2001, had no record. In late 90's I got addicted to vicodin and subsequently to heroin. I began committing theft crimes to support my habit....I first was convicted of (1)forgery and (2)fraud, (3)receiving stolen property and within that same time, one count of (4)petty theft and one (5)possession of a controlled substance was run concurrently with those initial charges. In all, I served 4 months. In 2003 I was convicted of my 2nd petty theft for the second of the two counties I was on probation in. I served 6 months and was given 5 year felony probation.
Last month I was pulled over in a third county and charged with possession of a controlled substance. The preliminary offer was 16 months or a possible year in a program. The case was held over until I went to court in county #2 for another possession charge, but this time I was charged with a possession for sales, given the quantity and way the drug was individually wrapped in dime sacks. I was not selling and never have. I was supposed to go to court yesterday to be arraigned but I chose to miss court ,despite my knowing there would n
ow be a warrant for my arrest..I simply couldn't take the chance that I would be remanded into custody for violating my probation by receiving this new charge.
Is that what would have likely happened? Now what should I do? If I get into a program, will that perhaps be my sentence or will time in jail be mandatory? Prison time? Would I have been remanded into custody for violating my probation? I know that violators usually are held with no bail. I want to know if I should get a private attorney and how much retainer is approximately needed. I have lots of questions but mainly want to know what I am facing.
Thanks for your help with my questions.
Shauna