I would be very surprised if you can't find an attorney that would take this case on for free or at the very least a small affordable payment plan. If you simply printed out this thread and took it with you some attorney somewhere is going to take this on, if for nothing else to prove that the justice in that town is skewed!
Something so is not right about this. Everyone here is behind you, but really let an attorney handle this for you, that is what they do, they know all the laws. Perhaps with an attorney making the calls you would already have had Max back.
I understand not having the $$, but I was taught that going to someone and telling the truth will open doors. It works, if you told an attorney this story, I believe that you would find one that would help you and work with you on the $$. JMO