Legal Question in International Law in Illinois

While visiting the state of Illinois for vacation at the beginning of the year, I was arrested for retail theft (class A misdemeanor, 720 ILCS 5/16A-13). I am back in my home country now and I am not a citizen of Illinois or the United States, but I am planning to visit the states again sometime in the future.

Because of my current location I will not be able to attend court or proceed to negociate any of the civil demands or charges. I am aware that ignoring these charges and fines will result in a warrant, but technically if I do not make any troubles during any future trips to the states, would it even matter? Also, is there anything I could do to resolve this issue from overseas? Thank you.


Asked on 3/13/12, 2:38 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Stephen Messutta

If you left the country without having first arranged for handling this issue, you could have aggravated it, unless perhaps you were under a visa that required you to depart prior to the court date, but that too is not necessarily an excuse and you may have been able to adjust the matter before you had to leave.

You should contact a local attorney here to find out what the status of the citation is and whether it has resulted in a warrant being issued for your failure to appear. The attorney may be able to adjust the matter even at this point in time so that if and when you return you won't have to have this hanging over your head OR you will find out whether you are headed for jeopardy. In the US the police share information and if you are arrested anywhere, it is possible that if there is an outstanding warrant the authorities where you are arrested may have the ability to hold you until Illinois decides what to do with you.....

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Answered on 3/13/12, 4:05 pm


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