I was place on probation for a misdemeanor theft charge that I later stopped attending out of fear of going to jail

The worst thing to do is not keep in contact with probation.  More than likley they have revoked your probation and a warrant is issued.  You need to speak with an attorney asap.  The attorney can look up the status of your case and decide how best to move forward.  Don't ignore this any longer.  The longer you wait the worse it gets.  Your best opportunity to get resolved is if you do it on your own before the court forces you to do so.