Shoplifting, Larceny, Robbery, Theft Advice on multiple criminal charges in mutlpice states

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prettyscrewed

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Before anything else, I want to say that I've long accepted that I've dug a deep pit that's going to take a long time, lots of work, and probably considerable funds to get out of, and the only thing I'm certian about is that I WILL have to eventually face the music. I registered here after searching as thuroughly as I could and not finding any information specific enough to give me any peace of mind regarding my situation.

I'll start at the begining.

A few weeks prior thanksgiving '05, when I was seventeen I clocked my (recently aquired) stepfather in the jaw, and was arrested on charges of domestic battery. Although his jaw was broken, and in manatee county I'm told that can warrent a felony, I was charged with a midemenour.

I was retained in the JDC until my first court date, the next morning I was taken by van to juvinile court where my mother and stepfather failed to show. I was told I'd be released to my mother's custody. As far as I understand this was unlawful as per the 30 day no contact order issued in all cases of domestic battery in manatee county.

The next day my mother came around to picking me up from juvy. I confronted her verbaly regarding her untimliness and neglect to appear at my court date. Her husband decided once I got home that he wasn't comfortable with me being there, and they took care of the situation by calling the police again.

My previous arresting officer arrived and achknowledged that I should not be staying in the house, so I phoned my old room mate and went back to my apartment.

A few weeks later I had another court date, my arraignment. I pleaded guilty, and was once again released until my next court date.

I was il advised, and made the poor decision to skip out on the court date for reasons that are irrelivant.

I flew to San Jose under the impression that if I layed low until I was ninteen that under the statute of limitations my bench warrent in Florida for missing the court date would simply go away along with the criminal charges as I was charged as a minor. (this was the bad advice)

Since then, in san jose, I was pulled over by local officers while driving friends home late at night for parking incorrectly. I was followed for about eight miles before they finaly turned on the lights when I parked to drop off this friend. I was driving the person I was staying with in san jose's car as I was the only person who hadn't been drinking that evening. Unbenounced to me, the person I'd been living with had an open (empty) can of been in the car. The officer saw this and wrote me a ticket for the open container that had a court date on it aswell. I am curious as to the legality of the discovery of the can, as I drove 100% legaly. It should also be noted that I do not have a california driver's licence, but a florida one.

To make matters worse, in my desperate monitary situation I was reduced to stealing sandwiches from a local store to eat. I was eventually arrested for this aswell. Another ticket. Another court date.

I have since left california out of panic.

Further information that might be helpful in advising me: the officer that pulled me over took down my address as my parent's home's address in florida, as that's what's on my driver's licence. The officers that arrested me on the petty theft charges took down my address as the one where I was staying in San Jose. The petty theft notice states that I had to go to the police station to be booked. Does this mean that my arrest was not final and that the statute of limitations may still apply to that specific charge?

I'm not asking for a loophole, as I'm sure that there is no single one at this point that could get me out of the fryer, but rather for advice as to what would be the most painless and inexpensive way to go about remedying these mistakes, and information on what to expect when the shit finally does hit the fan.

I'm in serious need of advice, and any information would be of a great help in these many decisions I have to make in the near future.
 
Get a lawyer

The best advice any one will give you is to get a lawyer. You are talking about issues in different states and different kinds of charges and now that you fled, additional charges and warrents have probably been issued. See if you qualify for legal aide services (if your area has one) if not you need to find a way to pay for and obtain a lawyer. Good luck and I hope you don't blow this off and do nothing. The longer you wait to resolve the issue the worse it will get for you in court.
 
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