Chicago, IL asked in Criminal Law, DUI / DWI and Domestic Violence for Minnesota

Q: What would be the out come when my boyfriend goes and turns his self in for 3 warrants that are for failure to appear

They are for a DUI and a domestic and for violating a danco. He had missed his sentencing court date on 1/29/20 and the domestic and the violation would have been dropped that day as I had to talk to people because the judge was the one who was pressing the charges for the domestic as I did not want to press charges against him. Is their a way that he could get the warrants dismissed without having to go to jail and just get a new court date set up or what he would be looking at right when doing so with the covid stuff going on. He had called the court and his public defender attorney telling them that he was stranded ways away from the county in which he had court and was still looking for a ride into court but was not having any luck and was looking to get the court date rescheduled and if anything changes on his situation he would let them know. All the court said was to call his attorney and his attorney did not get the message until after court and the warrants were issued.

2 Lawyer Answers

A: It's been six months since he missed court. The likelihood that the warrants would be dismissed under the circumstances without him at least having to turn himself in is non-existent. He would need to be held for an appearance before a judge so that conditions of release could be set. He would be released if he is able to meet those conditions of release. Otherwise, he would remain in custody until sentencing. He could be facing more time at sentencing given that he failed to appear for sentencing. He should get in touch with his attorney ASAP and turn himself in. Waiting until he is arrested on the warrant is not going to help him at all.

A: It's extremely unlikely that a person who "failed to appear" six months ago, for a sentencing hearing would be able to clear arrest warrants in any way other than by turning themselves in at the jail for booking (or getting caught at a more inconvenient moment). His lawyer can inform the judge of the difficulties and extenuating circumstances when he does appear before the judge. That may help mitigate some of the damage done by the failure to appear, and time lapsed since. He should call his lawyer about all of it, and to coordinate a turn-in date.

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