New laws restricting bail prior to first appearance for certain felonies went into effect in 2024. But for misdemeanors and some felonies, you will be permitted to bail out after an arrest, which is the court’s guarantee that you will not skip out but will show up for all the judge’s hearings after being released from custody. This keeps the Seminole County jail from being overcrowded and allows you to maintain your family and job.
If you do miss a judge-ordered court date, do not tell yourself it is no big deal. You will be charged separately in addition to your original offense, but our seasoned defense attorneys are here for you. For the experienced assistance you need so your legal challenges do not devolve into a nightmare, contact a Sanford failure to appear lawyer now.
Florida Statutes § 843.15 explains what happens when you fail to appear for a judicial hearing. Along with being charged as a separate crime from your underlying one, you will lose the bail money you posted. If you work with a bail bondsman who charges you a percentage of your bail and then incurs the rest, which is returned when you appear for hearings but forfeited if you do not, that bondsman will look for you to recoup the loss.
The judge will also issue a second notice to appear or if warranted, a capias, which is a bench warrant for your arrest. If your underlying crime is a felony, the new charge for failing to appear is a felony in the third degree, and if your underlying crime is a misdemeanor, the judge will add a first-degree misdemeanor to the mix. Your Sanford failure to appear attorney must act quickly so you are not charged with contempt of court. The bench warrant can be recalled if your attorney convinces the judge that you take your legal problems seriously. You may also have an excuse, such as a medical emergency, or you never received notice to appear.
Judges in the 18th Judicial Circuit can be tough, especially when someone with a pending crime fails to appear at a scheduled hearing. If the bench warrant is executed and you are arrested, the judge might allow you out on bond again, but it is not guaranteed.
You will go before a judge within 24 hours of your arrest on the bench warrant, and they will determine if you will be able to bond out of jail and how much that bond will be. The judge will consider:
Failure to appear for a court hearing requires swift action by an experienced Sanford lawyer. Your next move should be to call us now and avoid additional jail time and fines.
The additional first-degree misdemeanor charge for failing to appear on the underlying misdemeanor charge is punishable by up to 12 months in Seminole County jail and a possible fine of up to $1,000.
The third-degree felony charged for failing to appear on an underlying non-violent felony charge is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. Do not let the threat of additional incarceration and fines intimidate you. A Sanford failure to appear attorney stands with you to eradicate or mitigate the damage.
Our attorneys understand how you might make a mistake maneuvering your legal journey and we are here to help you. If you have a court date, you must go to the courthouse, where we will meet you and resolve your issue.
For now, contact The Umansky Law Firm for outstanding advocacy when a judge has issued a bench warrant for your arrest because you missed a hearing. We do not allow your situation to get worse. A Sanford failure to appear lawyer acts immediately to rectify the matter, but you must also act immediately and contact us for help. Call today.
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