New Jersey legal advice/difficulty, please help...?

I am seventeen and a few months a go I was arrested for doing something I shouldn't have done with my friends that involved automobiles, it was stupid and dumb and I immediately regretted it. The officers that processed me said that I would go before an informal committee of peers and at most be sentenced to community service and fines. Now, I've got a letter in the mail that said i will go before a judge as a formal hearing and that I could face jail time and fines. Not only am I confused as to what will happen, but the letter said the the hearing will take place when I'm 18 even though the incident happened when I was 17, does that influence anything at all?





Charges:


Theft to the fourth degree


Burglary to the third degree


Criminal Mischief





What is the maximum punishment for this type of crime and what is the minimum aside from being let go scott-free.New Jersey legal advice/difficulty, please help...?
Oh my. Cops will lie to you, they are allowed to. You not allowed however to lie to them. My rule is if there is jail time involved get a lawyer!





In the future, keep you mouth shut, ask for your lawyer. In the long run, there is nothing to be gained by talking to cops. Oh and don't admit to the wrong doing on Yahoo!Answers!