Legal Question in Criminal Law in Massachusetts

My cousin is panicking because she got into an argument with her aunt over Facebook and it got out of hand (as arguments usually do) and now months later, her aunt is suing her claiming that she felt threatened. She had a magistrate hearing but did not attend because the hearing was in Massachusetts (where her aunt lives) and my cousin lives in Michigan. Now she received another letter about an arraignment hearing later this month about Threat to commit a crime. She has a clean record and has never been in any kind of trouble. She doesn't have the money to travel from Michigan to Massachusetts for the hearing and she called the court where the hearing is at and they said that if she fails to show then a warrant will be issued for failure to appear, and the woman at the court also said it could take months to resolve and she can't afford to travel back and forth. What should she do? She thinks just don't show and turn herself in after the warrant is issued and her husband says he will bail her out. Any advice would be appreciated because she is scared. What are her options? Thank you.


Asked on 6/15/16, 2:09 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
ERNEST BIANDO LAW OFFICE OF ERNEST T. BIANDO, LLC

Se needs to hire an Attorney here in Massachusetts. I have had these types of cases in the past and generally can excuse the defendant's appearance until the case either goes to trial or gets resolved. She can contact my office at anytime and I can speak with her about the matter.

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Answered on 6/16/16, 8:46 am


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