If you are like most people, from time to time, you may forget an appointment or meeting. While this often has minor consequences, the same cannot be said if you miss a court date. Failure to appear is a serious offense in Texas. The penalties you can face may be more severe than the crime you are originally charged with. As such, it’s in your best interest to contact an experienced Dallas County Criminal Lawyer who can help you navigate your options. Please continue reading to learn what will happen if you fail to appear for a scheduled court date in Texas.
What Penalites Can I Face if I Miss My Court Date?
If you are facing criminal charges in Texas, it’s important to understand that failing to appear for a scheduled court date can have grave consequences. Generally, you can expect the presiding judge to issue a bench warrant for your arrest. This will direct law enforcement to take you into custody on the grounds you failed to comply with a court order.
If you have been released on bail, missing your hearing can result in the revocation of your bond. This means you will forfeit the right to have your money returned. Essentially, the court will keep the money you pledged as collateral for missing your court appearance. This can complicate matters, particularly if you borrowed money from a friend, family member, or a bail bondsman. The bail bondsman or a bounty hunter may hunt you down.
Before the court determines an appropriate punishment, they will first examine whether or not there were extenuating circumstances that prevented you from appearing. If the court determines you were irresponsible, your penalties will correlate to the nature and severity of your original charges.
If the original crime resulted in only a fine, such as a minor traffic offense, you will face a Class C misdemeanor. In this case, the crime is punishable by a fine of up to $500. If the original crime was a misdemeanor, such as the possession of marijuana, it could result in a fine of up to $4,000 and up to one year in jail. If you were originally arrested on a felony charge, such as burglary, this will be classified as a third-degree felony. This crime is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and up to 10 years in prison.
What Should I Do if I Miss My Hearing?
As you can see, missing a court date can have serious consequences. If you miss your court hearing, you should contact your attorney as soon as possible as they can advise you on how to proceed to protect yourself. Nevertheless, if you anticipate missing your scheduled court date, you should contact the court. If you explain your situation, they may allow you to reschedule the hearing. However, this is not always the case.
At Spangler Law, we are prepared to help you navigate your original charges and any additional sanctions for missing a scheduled court date. Connect with our firm today to learn how we can assist you through these challenging times.
