Santa Ana, CA asked in Criminal Law for California

Q: Can I pay instead of doing community service I work and i have a new born at home so I have no time to do my service

My case is 5 years old and i had to plea guilty for them to sentence me last year

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2 Lawyer Answers
John Karas
John Karas
Answered
  • Criminal Law Lawyer
  • Temecula, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: You should pose this question to the attorney or Public Defender who represented you at the time of your sentencing. You mentioned that you pled guilty 5 years ago and by not having performed the CS, you are technically in violation of your probation and a bench warrant probably has already issued for your arrest.

Good luck.

Jimmy Cha
PREMIUM
Jimmy Cha
Answered
  • Criminal Law Lawyer
  • Fullerton, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: Depends. But I'll get into that in a minute. For now, if you have not completed your community service, there is a warrant out for your arrest.

Now, if community service was ordered in lieu of fines, then you can just go to court, see the judge and tell the judge you would rather pay due to change in circumstances. However, if it was ordered as a term of your probation, then no, you cannot just pay, as it was a part of your plea bargain.

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