Mesa Failure to Appear Attorney
If you have failed to appear for a hearing, do not panic. At Grand Canyon Law Group, we can often “quash” a bench warrant that may have issued, avoid an arrest, and get your case on track. However, it is vital that you take action immediately to avoid possible arrest and a negative implication on your underlying case.
Failing to appear in an Arizona court can result in a misdemeanor or felony charge, according to Arizona Revised Statutes 13-2507. However, it is commonly charged as a misdemeanor. If you recently did not make your court date, it is important that you reach out to the persistent attorneys at Grand Canyon Law for legal assistance, whether the court issued a bench warrant or not.
A bench warrant allows police to arrest you on failure to appear charges and bring you before the court. The judge assigned to your case might also require you to forfeit the posted bond, meaning you will not be able to collect the money that was posted and could face fines from the bail bondsman. If you face these charges for whatever reason, contact a Mesa failure to appear lawyer as soon as possible to protect your rights.
For a free legal consultation with a failure to appear lawyer serving Mesa, call 480-400-5555
VALID REASONS FOR MISSING A COURT DATE IN MESA
Missing a court date is not always intentional. While some defendants skip their hearings in an attempt to leave the state or country or avoid responsibility, others have legitimate reasons for not appearing at their designated time. Our experienced local attorneys often argue the following defenses for those who do not make their court dates:
- The defendant had a sick or injured child, such as a young one who came down with flu or sustained a broken bone
- The “summons” came to a bad address or the defendant did not receive the notice for any reason and was not aware of the court date.
- The defendant fell seriously or deathly ill
- The defendant became severely injured
- The defendant got into a car or other motor vehicle accident on the way to the hearing, which prevented them from appearing in court even if they were not injured
Mesa Failure To Appear Lawyer Near Me 480-400-5555
FAILING TO APPEAR CLASSIFICATIONS PENALTIES
There are three failure to appear penalty categories according to A.R.S. § 13-2506, A.R.S. § 13-2507, and A.R.S. § 13-3903. The most severe charge is a Class 5 penalty for failing to appear for a felony proceeding. Penalties typically include a sentence of one and a half years in prison and up to $150,000 in fines.
Failure to appear for a petty offense or misdemeanor hearing is categorized as a Class 1 misdemeanor. If convicted, a defendant faces up to six months of prison time. Not showing up in court after making a written promise to do so is a Class 2 misdemeanor that, if convicted, is penalized by up to four months in jail.
The former prosecutors at Grand Canyon Law are well-versed in these types of cases. Our aggressive legal team can use a variety of defenses, such as emergency situations, to explain the reasoning for missing a court date in Mesa. A lawyer with experience handling failure to appear cases could be a defendant’s best chance at shortened or dismissed charges.
Click to contact our Criminal Defense Lawyers in Mesa today
CALL A MESA FAILURE TO APPEAR ATTORNEY TO DEFEND YOU
Unexpected events and circumstances sometimes make it impossible to appear before a court. If you could not make your hearing for any reason, it is vital to contact an attorney to handle the process correctly. If done wrong, you run a much higher chance of being arrested and hurting your prospects for a positive outcome in your underlying case. This can help show the judge and prosecution that you take your charges seriously. Give our law firm a call today to discuss your situation and learn how we can vigorously defend your case.
Call or text 480-400-5555 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
