First Time Paraphernalia Charges Ohio

[bugsbunny]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Ohio

i was arrested on may 8th of this year, for disorderly conduct, for the act of engaging in fighting and or turbulent behavior. while being arrested for that, i was patted down and the officers found a small pipe in my pocket. when asked what it was (before it was removed from my pocket) i replied, it is a pipe.
i never said what i was using it for (not that it matters) i was then charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. offense 2925.14(c)(1): No person shall knowingly use, or possess with purpose to use, drug paraphernalia. as written on the citation.

here is my issue, i was already told i will not face jail-time, i was told by the arresting officer i will only have to appear in court, and pay some fines.
but upon researching i have found that along with the fines i will lose my license for 6months to 5 years, and possibly have house arrest/probation or community service. thats where the problem comes in, i am un-employed, i just got my license on april 29th. if i lose my license i will not be able to find and or hold a job, and in turn will not be able to pay the fines. also i live with my grandmother, and have not told her of my arrest. if i lose my license, or get put on house arrest she will then find out about it, and i will be kicked out. i have nowhere else to live. so my question is. is there any way (without hiring an attorney) that i can possibly get the paraphernalia charges reduced/dropped, and is there any way i can keep my license? also if i am kicked out of my residence, how do i go about paying my fines, reporting to probation or being on house arrest, if i am homeless?

i really need any advice or help possible, my court date is may 19th.
its my first ever offense. never even as a minor was i in any trouble.
i have no idea what to expect in court. i am freaking out. i need any help i can get. its a shame that one mistake is possibly going to ruin my entire future. but thats what im looking at. becoming homeless and in major debt at the age of 18. with no hopes of getting a job or a place to live. all over a frickin pipe.

[LawResearcherMissy]

becoming homeless and in major debt at the age of 18. with no hopes of getting a job or a place to live. all over a frickin pipe.

Cram the drama, OK? You look foolish. You're hardly the first teenager to get busted doing something stupid, and contrary to your dramatic proclamation of "no hope", the others seem to have recovered nicely.

Sheesh.

In the state of Ohio, possession of paraphernalia is a misdemeanor offense punishable by a maximum of a $750 fine and a maximum of 30 days in jail. With the exception of minor misdemeanor possession of pot possession (100 grams or less), yes, conviction results in a license suspension of 6 months to five years.

As a first offender, you may well be eligible for conditional release, which allows you to take fines and probation in lieu of trial. After the completion of your probation, you don't even have a criminal record. Conditional release also means that you keep your drivers license.

Obviously, you can't afford private counsel. That's OK. Show up on your court date, plead Not Guilty, and ask for a Public Defender. S/he will help determine if you're eligible for conditional release, and work to get you the least harsh punishment possible.

Conditional release is a one shot proposition. Get busted for drugs and paraphernalia again, you're not going to be able to get off easily. Time to straighten up and fly right, don't you think?