Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

You should really contact an attorney as soon as possible to handle this matter for you. You do not want to let this sit.

Contact my office if you would like to go over the scenario and see what can be done, if anything.

213-612-7720

www.zarabilaw.com

You will need to contact an attorney in the locality where the warrant was issued. Since it is a felony charge, unfortunately you would need to travel to California and post a bail bond if need be. The attorney you retain should be able to informally contact the prosecutors and find out what bail arrangements will be necessary, and get additional information about the charge(s).

When you have hired an attorney and you return to California, there would be an "arraignment" in court at which time your attorney would plead "not guilty" and there would be a date set for a preliminary hearing. Depending on the facts of the case, your attorney might then attempt to negotiate a plea bargain -- hopefully one that would enable you to, at worst, be on probation in your home state.

Do the adoption authorities in your home state require only that you "take care of" the warrant, or will a felony conviction disqualify you? This is important information that your attorney will need to have.

You will need to appear with a California Attorney, as, on a FELONY charge, you MUST appear in court with your attorney. Contact an attorney in or near the area where the warrant exists that is capable of handling serious criminal matters. David Wallin

To handle a warrant, you must turn yourself into the court issuing the warrant, with or without an attorney, and try to negotiate a recall of the warrant and a plea bargain on the new �Failure to Appear� charge, negotiate bail or OR release, and renegotiate any outstanding charges that caused the warrant. Effective plea-bargaining, using whatever legal defenses, facts and sympathies there may be, could possibly keep you out of jail/prison, or at least dramatically reduce it. Since this is a felony, you must be personally present at every court hearing and appearance. Unless you're competent to effectively represent yourself in court against a professional prosecutor trying to put you in jail, most people hire an attorney who can. If serious about hiring counsel to help in this, and if this is in SoCal courts, feel free to contact me.

Warrants don't go away. Yes you need a California lawyer. In virtually all cases you would need to be present with your lawyer to get the warrant recalled and would be well served to have a sit down with a bail bondsman before you go into court. We have a great one who would be happy to talk to you. You are always better served showing up in court voluntarily on the warrant, regardless of the reason, as opposed to getting picked up and extradited. The sooner the better. Were all over California and can handle most jurisdictions and offer a free consult.

Brian Michaels

www.socalcrimdefense.com