Minor (17) child was arrested for drinking.
He showed up for his first court appearance and was given a court appointed attorney.
He has not yet called or seen his attorney.
He has moved out of county, and I fear he may be trying to avoid going to court.

Can anyone tell me what happens if he does not show up.

My own thoughts were that he would be charged with something like "failure to appear."
Then a "bench warrant" would be issued and he would/could be arrested, and will stay in jail until his next hearing.

I am doing my best to encourage him to go to court!

Please help if you can as the info may help to "persuade" him.

Angel

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Originally Posted by Angel_Wings

My own thoughts were that he would be charged with something like "failure to appear." Then a "bench warrant" would be issued and he would/could be arrested, and will stay in jail until his next hearing.

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Hello Angel:

Bingo. If that piece of data doesn't make him go to court, nothing will.

excon

A bench warrant will be issued for his arrest. The bench warrant does not expire either and can haunt him for years to come. If he somehow evades the police for a few years on this, one day when he goes to get his driver's license renewed (for instance) he will be detained and immediately arrested. You might want to impress him with this information and get him to take care of this now versus down the road.

Thanks to you both.
I hope knowing that he can/will be arrested if not now, then sometime down the road, will be enough to "inspire" him to go to court and deal with his responsibilities now!
Angel