Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

Unsure about charges, court date TOMORROW

Please excuse the last minute post to this site (court date is supposedly 6/15), but I am unsure where to go next with this situation.

I was recently arrested for what I'm told is forgery in connection with a check my girlfriend was cashing at a local check cashing shop. She's also been charged as well and is scheduled to appear in court on 6/19. Her charge is PC 476 (still researching) so I think mine is the same. Right now the only paperwork I have on my arrest is a receipt from the Bail Bondsman that has 6/15/06 and Compton Superior written on it. So I have to assume I must appear in court tomorrow am.

My question is this, I'm not sure if there is any charges against me, since a search on the LA Superior Court site turns up nothing when I search in both criminal and civil. How can I find out if there are charges against me, and if there are, can I postpone what is probably my arraignment tomorrow? Also, what ties if any can there be to my girlfriends arraignment on 6/19?

This is just another chapter in a really long and rocky chapter that I'd like to put behind me for good. As a small business owner, this sort of thing does not good on my record.

Thanks in advance for any help!!


Asked on 6/14/06, 11:16 am

3 Answers from Attorneys
Terry A. Nelson Nelson & Lawless

Re: Unsure about charges, court date TOMORROW

You must show up in court as required, and if the charges aren't yet filed, they will give you a new date. If you don't show up, you could end up with a warrant. The records system sometimes doesn't work too well, but it will catch up with you. If you need to hire an attorney, give me a call.

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Answered on 6/14/06, 1:13 pm
Michael Stone Law Offices of Michael B. Stone Toll Free 1-855-USE-MIKE

Re: Unsure about charges, court date TOMORROW

Don't rely on your computer searches. You do have to show up in Compton at 8:30 AM tomorrow. This will be the arraignment, and the court clerk has the paperwork (the charges and police report) ready to give to your attorney. You can ask to have the arraignment postponed ("contined") for a week to give you time to find an attorney, but I don't recommend this as there are any number of ways to foul up your case if you show up without an attorney (some unrepresented defendants start telling their story to the judge, which is a VERY BAD idea -- I would want you to say NOTHING AT ALL to the judge). So you had best spend the rest of today lining up an attorney. Otherwise you will have to accept a less-than-optimal result which could seriously mess up your life.

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Answered on 6/14/06, 2:31 pm
Steven Mandell Law Offices of Steven R. Mandell

Re: Unsure about charges, court date TOMORROW

Despite what Michael Stone has to say, I recommend that you do go tomorrow to Court and ask the court for a continuance in order to get an attorney. No one is going to ask you anything about your case, so there's no need to worry about accidentally saying something that will harm your case. Ask for a month continuance. You'll probably only get 2 weeks, but there's no reason to rush the selection of your attorney. It's too important a decision. If you'd like to talk to me about your matter, don't hesitate to contact me.

If you want to find out if charges have been filed against you today, Wednesday, you can call the District Attorney's office in Compton ask as them. If the charges have been filed and logged into the computer, they'll tell you what the charges are.

Good luck. Steve Mandell

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Answered on 6/14/06, 2:47 pm


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