Legal Question in Criminal Law in Florida

Re: Statute of Limitations

Upon your failure to appear in court, you were probably convicted in abstentia and a bench warrant issued for your arrest. Once convicted, there is no statute of limitations. The conviction stays forever.

Your best option at this time is to hire a local attorney who can try to have your case reopened and attempt to enter a plea on your behalf which would have the effect of cancelling the warrant. If your record is otherwise clear, you may be able to enter a no contest plea in exchange for a withhold of adjudication. This will not be an easy task as many judges are aprehensive to reopen a case that is 20 years old although it can be done.

Scott R. Jay, Esq. 204-249-8000

Re: Statute of Limitations

I've read Scott's reply and intend only to suppliment it.

The case is a Florida Case. You need a Florida Attorney.

The warrant isn't going to be much of a problem outside of Florida since the State of Florida will not want to pay to fly you back to Florida for a matter this trivial.

They may or may not have tried you in abstenia in Florida. That is a matter of public record. And any one should be able to have the clerk pull the file in Florida.

Trial in abstenia isn't that unusual. I've defended a couple here in California several years ago. So you may or may not have been tried.