Failure to Appear for Shoplifting Trial

[Skizzy]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Alabama

My boyfriend got caught stealing something at a grocery store, and I'm pretty sure they charged him with petty theft because it was under $20 worth of stuff. He went on the day he was supposed to for court, and they told him to call.

He tried calling and I guess it never went through, or he didn't have enough patience with the automated system you have to go through before you get a real person, so he never actually made his second court date.

Tonight he got arrested with a warrant for failure to appear, and I'm wondering 3 things:
1. Is he going to have to stay in jail until his court date now?
2. Is he just going to have to pay a fine [that was his original punishment] but just a greater fine, or is he going to have to do jail time now?
3. If he has to do time, is he going to be in there from now until then, or will he get out between his court date and jailtime a little bit and go back [I know that sounds stupid, but I can hope]

Sorry that was a relatively long question, this JUST happened, and I'm still pretty upset

[Mr. Knowitall]

1. Maybe. He'll know soon enough if he's eligible for a bond.

2. I suspect that, at a minimum, he'll get "time served" plus probation. Whether he gets more jail time is up to the judge.

3. If he is eligible for bond and he bonds out, he'll be out. If he is held, for example, on a contempt sentence, or he doesn't bond out, then he'll stay in jail until either the contempt sentence has been served or he bonds out, perhaps both, or until the shoplifting charge is resolved.