Shoplifting in NYC

[sanita]

Hi,
I am a 22 year old spanish girl who this summer (month of july) commited a real stupidity --> I shoplifted at Urban Outfitters. I was arrested and I don't know if for not being an american citizen I spent the night in jail until the next day, when I saw a judge. The judged charged me on 240.20 penal law,said that that wasn't a 'crime' but a 'fault' to which I plead guilty and I got 1 day community service to do and payed a 95$ fine (what I took from UO was a 15$ t-shirt...). I did community service and payed mi fine, but I was supposed to see the judge befor 9.30 am on the 22 september, which I didn't since I was back in Spain (I was only in NYC on holiday) and couldn't afford buying a plane ticket to go to see the judge.

My attourney knew that I was leaving on August the 8th, but she didn't say anything when the judge told me to go back to room 200 on 22 September, and she told me that if I payed and did community service befor the 22nd nothing would happen. The problem is that my fiancée has got a job offer in LA and I'll probably be going back to the US again this summer, and I fear being arrested again for not having seen the judge (on the slip I got it said that if I failed to go to court an arrest order 'may' be warranted against me).

I am going to go to the US embassy in Madrid before going, since I'll have to get a visa to go back to the US because of having been arrested there, but... how can I know if there is an arrest order against me? Would they do that even after paying the fine and community service? Would my attourney be so careless? I tried to get the pink paper signed before leaving, I even spent 4 days trying to solve this in court, trying to get proof from the community service office, telling my story to whoever cared to listen, but I was unable to solve anything.

I am really worried, I don't want any more trouble and I'd rather not go ever again to the US than sleeping one more night in jail...

Could you give me some advice on how should I proceed? What should I expect?

Thank you.

[Mr. Knowitall]

You stole, then you violated your probation, so you've put yourself into a bad position. Consult an immigration lawyer.

[sanita]

Thank you for the information.

I am not sure where in Spain can I find a lawyer who knows about american criminal laws... could you please suggest me an on-line service where they could provide me with this kind of service?

Since I am a law student I may be able to solve this out by myself, where could I find the information I need?

Even after paying the fine and doing community service on the 3 days after being arrested I'd still be considered to have done something worth considered a violation of my probation?

Thank you again...