I was arrested for criminal trespassing and obstruction because I with-held my roommates belongings.?

I was arrested for criminal trespassing and obstruction because I with-held my roommates belongings and threatened to sale them because she would not pay her rent and we were facing an eviction because of it. When the police officers came, I had to give them back to her in front of them and she agreed that everything was present. Then he talked with her for 5 minutes in her room and then came out and arrested me for trespassing.This is my first offense EVER! I am the head of household and allowed her to move in 3 months prior to this incident. Will I have to go to jail again and have a record for a roommate dispute? I do not want this trespassing charge on my record. I do not have anything on my record and I definitely don't want this. When people see that they will not know that is was in my own apartment. Please help! I can not afford to hire a private lawyer, what can I do?

First of all, I can't believe they arrested you for trespassing! Especially if you were in your own apartment. Seems to me that there is some miscommunication somewhere. I wouldn't worry about going back to jail. Trespassing in not considered a felony. Also, if this is your first offense, I highly doubt you will end up in jail. As far as not being able to afford an attorney; you can call your local community legal aid service and they will either hook you up with an attorney for little or nothing and/or help you fill out the necessary paperwork to help you represent yourself in court. Good Luck!

You broke the Law...by not taking it to Court...
You cannot just hold anyones personnel property !!!!
But have never heard of anyone being charged
with Trespassing in their own home ???

Sounds like the room mate has done this before
as she knows all the angles...
The Cop was probably a friend of Hers...

As they say...
"Let No Good Deed...Go Unpunished"

you need to access your situation,.. once you decide that you are absoutly sure that you do not want this on "your permanent record" then you will be able to allocate funds to a lawyer.

there's an expression,.. any one who legally represents them self has a fool for a client.

It sounds like you will have to get a lawyer somehow. There is probably a legal aid service in your county. Go to the county clerk's office and find out. Legally you had no right to withhold her belongings. Her being late with her rent is a separate issue, and that is how the law will look at it. I know it seems draconian, but a permanent criminal record is what you're facing, and that's why it's so important for you to get a lawyer.

As "head of the household", you are considered a landlord, and as such must follow legal procedures. You violated those.

If you can't afford an attorney, you'll be provided a public defender.

best thing would be to call the courts and get a public defender. Sounds like it was your place so you couldnt be trespassing. They may be able to get you for obstruction but if you talk it over with the public defender, see if they can get everything reduced to disorderly conduct. You will most likely have to pay a fine. Next time you must go through the eviction process.

Get a good lawyer.