When I was 17, I was charged with retail theft. I went to court, paid my fines and the case was closed.

At 20, I was caught again and just received papers in the mail. The judge told me that when they send my fingerprints to Harrisburg, if they come back and say I have priors, I will need to get an attorney. The only "prior" I have would be my juvenile charge... can that be used for this situation and make this my second offense? Or since this is the first time I have been charged as an adult, it's only one?

Thank you!

If they referred to all charges and the earlier charge was not somehow sealed because of your age, yes, it's a prior which can be accessed.

In some areas only under 16 are sealed.

This a question about criminal law, not small claims.