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Criminal court dates are mandatory. When a person is facing criminal charges, or is involved in a criminal proceeding, they are legally obligated to show up for all court hearings. Missing a court date is referred to as a \u201cfailure to appear\u201d or \u201cFTA\u201d, and it is a crime punishable by law. A person will face serious criminal charges in addition to the ones they were already charged with prior to missing their court date. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Without the help of an experienced criminal defense attorney, those charged with FTA will likely be sentenced to the maximum penalties decreed by their state. Depending on where they live and their criminal history, these penalties will vary. Continue reading to learn more about FTAs and what to expect if you are facing a similar charge in your town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bench Warrants<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
If a person misses a mandatory court hearing, they will be\nissued a bench warrant. This is a type of arrest warrant that demands a\nperson\u2019s presence on the judge\u2019s bench. When a person has a bench warrant, they\ncan be arrested and taken into custody at any time, whether during a routine\ntraffic stop or at their front door. They can post bail and be released from police\ncustody in most cases, but they will have to sit in jail for at least a few\nhours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A person must face the judge once again, not only for their\npast matters, but for new criminal charges as a result of missing their court\ndate. That means a separate set of penalties on top of the ones they were\nfacing with their original charges. However, the severity of penalties for an\nFTA generally depends on the seriousness of the original crime a person was\ncharged with. Penalties also vary by state. Look below for an example of\nmisdemeanor crimes and felony crimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here in Indiana\u2026<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
Misdemeanor Crimes \u2013<\/strong> A Failure to Appear charge will be penalized as a Class A Misdemeanor if the original crime was a misdemeanor. Class A Misdemeanors are punishable by up to 1 year in jail and $5,000 in fines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Felony Crimes \u2013<\/strong> FTAs charges are penalized as Level 6 Felonies if the original criminal charge was a felony offense. Level 6 felonies are punishable by 6 months to 3 years in jail and up to $10,000 in fines. Sometimes they can be reduced to Class A Misdemeanors for first-time offenders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Call 317-636-7514<\/strong> to schedule a consultation with aggressive criminal defense attorney<\/a>, David E. Lewis. He will stop at nothing to protect your rights and preserve your freedoms after being charged with invasion of privacy in Indianapolis. With decades of hands-on experience, you can trust Attorney David E. Lewis to build you a strong and impactful defense against your criminal charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to facing criminal charges, you will, without a doubt, have to go to court. Although most court hearings, such as arraignments, can be handled by your lawyer without your presence, there are other court dates that do … Continue reading Indiana Criminal Defense Law Firm<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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