Q: Criminal charges were filed against me i bail out a day later, i was given court dates but didnt appear on the court cal
So im thinking charges were droped, Days later i find out different charges were filed and serious ones at that, had a new court date but my bail remained the same and active, but shouldnt i be rearrested on the new charges, and have to post bail again on the new charges?
A:
Not necessarily unless the new charges are substantially different (i.e. felonies) from what you were charged initially (misdemeanors).
Whether the new charges are serious misdemeanor or as as felonies, do yourself a favor and hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer in your area rather than opt for a Public Defender just because they're "free" (they're not actually, the penalty assessments in the fines imposed partly cover their representation and PD's are only available to defendants who are financially eligible).
A: You should consult with and hire an experienced criminal attorney. What they charged will now alter the "requested bail" in court. So when you show up, that is what the prosecutor is going to ask for. If it was more than 15 days since your bail was originally posted, you COULD be forced to post a new bond. There are all kinds of factors going on here, things that an experienced criminal defense lawyer could help you with as you strategize to tackle this situation. Hire someone quickly, in order to take advantage of the current jail release situations as well as to begin strategizing long term. You don't want to end up back in jail at your court date. Again - lots to discuss here.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
