My question involves criminal law for the state of: Pennsylvania
I am actually attempting to help my mother out by looking into her situation for her since she is quite computer illiterate. I'm going to break down her situation as easily as I can, and feel free to ask questions if you need to.
My mother, for (I believe) the years 2006-2008, frauded her food stamps by claiming that my daughter and myself lived in the household with her and that I was unemployed. We had lived with her for a year or so prior to this and I /was/ unemployed at that time, but she continued to claim us to get the increase in food stamp benefits after I'd moved out and found full time employment.
About a year ago, a case worker caught up to her and let her know the situation -- that they knew I was no longer there. My mother came clean about it all, but claimed that she was getting me food with it too as a defense. She also has been deemed unfit to care for her own personal finances by the state of Pennsylvania due to mental disorders, but was allowed to pursue welfare on her own. I don't know if that will weigh in on this, but she believes it will.
However, that's not where I'm going with this. I just wanted to give a little backstory to build on what has now become a fairly large problem. And here also are my questions.
My mother had not heard anything from the courts or from this case worker for a year. In that time, she moved about three hours north of where she lived at the time the initial case was launched. My mother has the new address on her license, accepts mail here, and even had food stamps again for just herself at the new address and with all of her information that was already on file.
Just recently, the case worker contacted her again. She said that my mother had missed a court date that no one ever knew about, and she was considered a 'fleeing felon'. She has spoken of putting a warrant out for my mothers arrest as well.
My mother lives on fixed income, so hiring an attorney is only feasible if they accept payment plans. She also does not believe a public defender would do a good enough job in this situation. So, onto my questions.
Would she have to serve jail time for this? How does she find out if she actually has a warrant out for her arrest and, if she does, would it be in her best interest to turn herself in? She wants to make resititution but what comes first? And would she definitely need a lawyer or could she represent herself?
I hope I've been clear enough here, and appreciate any response. I just want to know what will most likely happen to her so I can prepare her for it.

