Thanks. I'm actually getting more upset and feeling defeated right as was I was beginning to have my depression lift.

I do need a lawyer. I have contacted several; some haven't gotten back to me. Others didn't really know and had different ideas about what the general problem was because it's not clear whether this is criminal, traffic or records. I can't afford to go all the way to court to fight this if what some of them have said is true. That is so wrong it makes me sick.

With regular convictions, there is a process of appeal, dismissal, or expungement. But since there was no court appearance in the first place, just an online payment of a fine, I can't petition the court using the forms available for most offenses. this as one lawyer pointed out is a total glitch in the system, that anyone could be convicted of a misdemeanor without a court appearance and without that charge made clear to them or hearing that that was the result either. I received nothing telling me this. I had no idea and heard by accident through a background check. Totally screwed over.