Legal Question in Criminal Law in Colorado

Stopped Paying Restitution

I was in an accident that was ruled my fault and ordered to pay over $10,000 in restituion in the amount of $100.00 a month until it is paid off. I am behind by 8 payments. I recieved a certified letter stating i need to pay $800.00 by Feb/07 or i will be in contempt of court and issued a warrant for my arrest. My question is if i do not pay this debt what will happen. I do not live in Colorado. I live in New Mexico right now and will be living in Oklahoma in the next few years. Can i be arrested or held responsible for this if i do not live in Colorado?


Asked on 12/23/06, 5:51 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Philip Rosmarin Rosmarin Law Firm

Re: Stopped Paying Restitution

If I were the district attorney involved, I would certainly try to get an extraditable warrant, meaning that, yes, you could be arrested and returned to Colorado.

But I think you're asking the wrong question. Rather than ask an attorney if you're safe from the law by running from it to another state, ask yourself what you can do to help these people you've hurt. Maybe you have a good reason why you've fallen behind in your payments, maybe you or your attorney can explain that reason to the court, and maybe you can work out an arrangement that neither leaves you in contempt of court nor the victims of the accident in the lurch.

Good luck.

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Answered on 12/30/06, 9:33 pm


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