Shoplifting At A Cart In The Mall

I have not received any notice from court so far... it has been over a month now. How long does it take normally before the court send the notice:confused: ?
Also please tell me that if I don't take a lawer but just go there, will I be fined and the case will be over or I do need to have an attorney? I cannot afford to have an attorney to fight my case. How can an attorney help me? If I am proven guilty and have to pay fine or any have to undergo any other punishment, this case will always be linked with my public record? Is that correct?

It is always a good idea to talk with an Attorney when facing criminal charges! many will grant you a free intial consultation. Check your local yellow pages you might find one

Thanks, I will check that out. But please clarify that is there a possibility at all that my name would not appear in public records, or that with this case I am branded forever? Also please tell me if it normally takes the court a month or more to send a notice for trial?

Depends on the court it could take some time if they wish. They have till the SOL runs out. Your other questions require pyshic skills I dont have sorry!

Got a notice from court stating that my arrest warrant has been issued because I did not appear in court on 1st summon, which by the way I never got. I went to the magistrate's clerk office and showed them the notice and they told me that "it happens all the time"! I couldn't understand what he meant but anyhow he asked me if I would like to settle this and if I had cash right now. I answered yes and he charged me $70.00 (value of disputed property) and gave me the receipt and a paper that had some details related to case and mainly said "Case Disposed". Additionally he told me that I was not convicted but still this case will always remain in my records and that I might need to show this paper to any official (like traffic police officer if caught or immigration authorities while international travel) if he asks about the case. I am not sure if the case is over, what happened to the opposite party. Does this mean that opposite party withdrew the case, or they also didn't appear on summon so they dismissed the case or something else? Is "case dismissed" different from "Case disposed"? Can you please throw some light on this.