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Prince William County Failure To Appear Lawyer

Failure to Appear Lawyer in Prince William CountyHave you been charged with a crime but failed to appear at your assigned court date?  If so, it is possible that a capias (bench warrant) has been issued for your arrest and that you run the risk of being brought to jail just by driving down the street.

The good news is that an experienced Prince William County failure to appear lawyer can explain your options and fight to keep you out of jail and help you to avoid serious penalties.

The Importance of Working With An Experienced Lawyer

The penalties associated with failure to appear convictions are harsh, especially since they are in addition to penalties associated with any underlying charge(s).

However, life is hectic and conflicts happen.  A knowledgeable Prince William County failure to appear lawyer knows that a key element in a failure to appear charge is the fact that you willfully missed your court appearance. Therefore, it is possible that your absence was not purposeful, but rather a mistake. In such a case, an experienced lawyer may be able to assist in having the failure to appear charge reduced or dismissed.

A failure to appear lawyer in Prince William County is valuable as having local knowledge of the Prince William County court system that can prove helpful in clearing up any administrative miscommunications that may have led to your failure to appear.

Responding to Your Charges in Prince William County

A major key in attempting to have your failure to appear charge reduced or dismissed is the immediacy of your attempt to rectify the situation.  If you have recently missed a court appearance and are concerned about the prospect of additional charges being brought against you, it is best that you contact an experienced Prince William County failure to appear lawyer as soon as possible.

What is Failing to Appear?

Virginia Code Section 19.2-128 mentions that in order to be charged with failing to appear, you must have either:

  • Been charged with a felony in Virginia, or
  • Been convicted of a felony in Virginia, or
  • Been charged with a misdemeanor in Virginia, or
  • Convicted of a misdemeanor in Virginia, and
  • Consciously failed to appear before the court as requested

If any of the above items apply to you, you should contact a Prince William County failure to appear lawyer quickly so that you can work to figure out a feasible defense strategy.

Penalties For Missing a Court Date in Virginia

If your previously scheduled court appearance was related to a felony, your failure to appear charge will be deemed a Class 6 felony.  However, if your previously scheduled court appearance was related to a misdemeanor, your failure to appear charge will be classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor.

In Virginia, if you are convicted of a Class 6 felony, you could face a prison sentence lasting between one and five years and a possible fine in excess of $2,500.

If you are convicted of a Class 1 misdemeanor, you could face up to 12 months in jail and a possible fine in excess of $2,500.

However, depending upon the specific facts of your case, penalties associated with both felonies and misdemeanors may be reduced at the Court’s discretion. To learn more about the specific charges that you may be facing contact a Prince William County failure to appear lawyer.

Consulting With a Prince William Failure to Appear Attorney

There is no substitute for an experienced lawyer when it comes to clearing up confusion surrounding your failure to appear charge in Prince William County.  Call today to learn how a Prince William County failure to appear lawyer can advocate on your behalf and help you minimize the harm of missing a court date.

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