Being arrested and accused of a crime may be one of the most stressful and frightening moments of your life. All of a sudden, you are facing possible jail time and hefty fines. During this time, you may be feeling frustrated and unable to think clearly. However, if you missed a court date, you could be facing an additional criminal charge on top of the one you are already dealing with.
If you are currently in this situation, it is essential to meet with a Mankato failure to appear lawyer as soon as possible. The criminal defense attorneys at Kohlmeyer Hagen, Law Office Chtd. have extensive experience in criminal law and can help you explore your legal options after missing a court date.
Human beings often have a lot going on in their lives. They may use tools to keep track of everything, such as calendars in their phones and reminder alerts. The stress of dealing with a criminal charge, along with everything else on a person’s plate, can lead them to forget about their court appearance. In some cases, they may have forgotten to set a reminder or never received notice about the court date.
Other reasons why people miss court dates include unexpected emergencies and work conflicts. It is also common for people to feel anxious about appearing in front of a judge, causing them to miss their court date out of panic.
Unfortunately, regardless of the reason, courts do not appreciate people failing to follow orders and legal procedures, even if it is unintentional. A judge can take several actions against someone who missed their court appearance. A Mankato attorney can help you dispute your failure to appear charge and present a strong defense as to why you could not attend the hearing.
When a person does not show up for their scheduled court date, the judge can issue a bench warrant, which authorizes law enforcement to arrest the person. Since the police typically do not prioritize these types of warrants, it is possible for someone to have a warrant out for their arrest without knowing about it. They often only become aware of the warrant during a routine traffic stop after the police check their record.
It is important to remember that failing to appear in court is a separate criminal charge, and it can result in additional penalties on top of the consequences you face for the original charge. For example, if the original charge was a misdemeanor, the failure to appear charge will also be a misdemeanor. However, if the original offense was a felony, then a failure to appear charge can result in a mandatory minimum sentence of one year and one day in jail and a $1,500 fine.
Bench warrants and failure to appear charges do not simply go away after time has passed. They must be dealt with according to state law and court procedures. According to Minnesota Statutes § 609.49, a person charged with missing their court date may challenge the charge if it was because of circumstances beyond their control. A failure to appear attorney in Mankato can help you present a compelling defense and potentially avoid additional penalties.
At Kohlmeyer Hagen, Law Office Chtd., we understand that life can feel overwhelming at times, causing you to forget about important obligations. Unfortunately, missing a court date can lead to additional criminal charges and penalties.
If you have missed your court date, speak with the team at Kohlmeyer Hagen, Law Office Chtd. today to discuss your case with a Mankato failure to appear lawyer.
