
When you are charged with a crime in Texas, you may find that the court date scheduled is incredibly inconvenient. Though you’ve tried to get off work or find a babysitter, you may think that skipping your hearing is no big deal. However, failure to appear in Texas is something the courts take very seriously, and you may find that the penalties for this can be incredibly intense. As such, the following blog explores what you must know about failure to appear and it’s critical to connect with Houston criminal defense attorneys who can assist you during these difficult times.
Is It a Crime to Miss a Court Date?
Skipping a court date is nowhere near the same as missing a doctor’s appointment or business meeting. If you do not appear for a court date, this is considered a crime. As such, you can face additional charges if you fail to appear for a scheduled court date. Unfortunately, the court does not care if you cannot miss work or have a vacation planned for the date you are supposed to appear.
If you do not show up for your court date, you’ll be charged with failure to appear. Essentially, when you are not at your hearing, you’ll find that a judge will likely issue a bench warrant for your arrest. In addition to being put back in jail, you relinquish any bond you posted to get out of jail. This is because the bail serves as collateral for you to attend all scheduled court dates.
The penalties you can face for failure to appear will depend on the circumstances of the crime which you are scheduled to appear for. If the crime is punishable by a fine, you’ll be charged with a Class C misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500, but if the original crime was a misdemeanor with the potential for jail time, this increases to a Class A misdemeanor, warranting up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine. However, if facing a felony charge and fail to appear, this is an additional third-degree felony offense, carrying two to ten years in prison.
What Should I Do if I’m Gonna Miss My Date?
Generally, you should not miss your court date as the court is not very forgiving towards those who fail to appear. Typically, unless you are in a serious car accident on the way to the courthouse or end up hospitalized the day before your hearing, the court will hold you accountable for missing your date.
If something severe occurs or you have missed your court date, the most important thing to do is contact your attorney as soon as possible. Your attorney can contact the court on your behalf to try to explain the circumstances and see if a warrant has been issued. If it has not, they may be able to prevent it, helping you avoid another arrest.
As you can see, missing a court date can have intense implications. That’s why it’s imperative to work with an experienced attorney from the Gonzalez Law Group who can help you explore your legal options. Our team understands how these matters can impact you, so we will do everything in our power to assist you through these complicated matters. Contact us today to learn more.