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quesha · Sep 19, 2006, 10:29 AM

I understand that if you fail to show up for a court appearance that they issue a warrant for your arrest.Let's say the person decides to turn themselves in a year or sevaral years later... does this person face any additional consequences.

Scenario:

I was suppose to show up for court for weapons posession( a felony here in NYC)... however I decided not to show up for court because my fiancé was pregnant. ( there was no trial as of yet) Now I want to turn myself in... Somebody please help me!

excon · Sep 19, 2006, 10:43 AM

Hello quesha:

Sure! Failure to appear is its own charge. Plus, if they want to, they'll find stuff to pile on. To ease your way, hire the best criminal attorney you can afford BEFORE your turn yourself in.

excon

s_cianci · Sep 19, 2006, 07:45 PM

Well, has a warrant been issued for your arrest? They obviously haven't come and gotten you yet so I have to wonder. Your best bet is to talk with a criminal attorney. Explain the whole situation to him/her and see what your options are. Then choose the path of least resistance.

Fr_Chuck · Sep 19, 2006, 08:01 PM

Often when we had a person who missed trial and the judge would issue a warrant, if it was not a real seroius crime they were first arrested for, it would not go very high on the list of the people who went and did warrant arrests, and in areas like Alanta with 2 or 3 new people skiping, and maybe a dozen others having arrest warrants put out , if you were a shop lifter or if you were wanted for a perhaps minor theft, normally they may drive past you house once or twice but they would just wait till you are caught speeding or doing something where your licence is run. Or find you if they get slow on major cases.

But like in Atlanta, the street cops normally have 3 to 4 active calls waiting at any one time, no they don't have time to worrry about the warants, just let time find them normally.

And yes, hire the attorney before you turn yourself in, the attorney will work with the DA have the bail set if possible before you turn yourself in, if they will allow it. And will normally set it up where you merely walk in and turn yourself in.

Believe me, if they are doing a warrant arrest, it is not a pleasant thing to happen.