What to do if I was a witness to someone pulling a gun on a friend and my friend is pressing charges but I want nothing to do with it?
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What to do if I was a witness to someone pulling a gun on a friend and my friend is pressing charges but I want nothing to do with it?
I have a private investigator calling and going to my family’s houses trying to contact me. He said he wants to meet up with me to give me a subpoena. If I dont show up he says he will issue a felony warrant, contact the state to cancel my EBT, contact IRS and any other benefits I get. Can he do this just because I don’t want to appear in court or meet up with him?
Asked on December 26, 2013 under Criminal Law, California
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 10 years ago | Contributor
If you do not respond to a lawful subpoena to appear for testimony, if and when you are properly served with one, you could be subject to sanctions, including possibly jail time (such as for contempt of court). The sanctions are not as extreme as he is saying--he's trying to scare you--but they are real and they are serious enough that, if you are served with a subpoena, you should appear.
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