[savvyrae23]

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!

[JudyKayTee]

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.