Greenwich Failure to Appear Lawyer

If you have missed a court date, you may be facing adverse effects in addition to your underlying criminal case. A Greenwich failure to appear lawyer can help you take steps to remedy the situation by advocating on your behalf to help you work toward a positive outcome.

Is a Failure to Appear a Crime?

Missing a required court date does not merely complicate the criminal proceeding connected with that court date. Failure to appear is a separate and additional criminal offense with added penalties. These crimes are codified in Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) § 53a-172 and § 53a-173.

What Happens if I Missed a Court for a Misdemeanor?

If you have been released on bond after a misdemeanor charge or released on probation after a misdemeanor conviction, then failing to appear at a hearing or court date in connection with that misdemeanor is considered failure to appear in the second degree.

According to Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) §53a-173, second-degree failure to appear is a Class A misdemeanor with penalties that include up to one year in jail and a fine as high as $2,000. Therefore, even if you were originally accused of a Class C misdemeanor with minimal penalties, failure to appear now exposes you to greater criminal liability. Fortunately, intervention from a failure to appear lawyer in Greenwich can reduce that liability considerably.

If I Fail to Appear for a Felony, Is That Worse?

When you fail to appear after being charged with a felony and released on bond or convicted of a felony and released on probation, then the failure to appear offense is considered first-degree failure to appear. C.G.S. §53a-172 defines this crime as a Class D felony.

If you were convicted of failure to appear in the first degree, you can be sentenced to five years in prison. The court may also impose a fine of up to $5,000. However, a Greenwich failure to appear attorney knows that the statute says a missed court appearance must be willful to constitute a violation, so it may be possible to satisfy the court that no violation occurred.

Work with an Experienced Greenwich Failure to Appear Attorney.

Regardless of the circumstances, if you are facing failure to appear charges, a criminal defense lawyer who understands how local courts treat failure to appear situations can help you minimize the negative consequences. Call now for a consultation with Mark Sherman Law to learn more.