Is it legal to sign a bench warrant on someone for FTA even if they weren’t given notice to appear upon being released from jail?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Is it legal to sign a bench warrant on someone for FTA even if they weren’t given notice to appear upon being released from jail?
I was arrested on a FTA warrant for a traffic ticket, I also was in possession of a small amount of marijuana when I was arrested. A friend I was arrested with also had a controlled substance on him. Since he was about to go to prison if he got in more trouble, he agreed to turn states evidence to get both our charges dropped, he was immediately released and wasn’t charged. When I paid the cash bond I was released and given a notice to appear for the traffic ticket FTA but there was no mention of the possession charge on the notice. I went to the court date for the traffic FTA.
Asked on September 14, 2011 under Criminal Law, Alabama
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
In your situation that you write about it appears that you were picked up on an outstanding warrant for failing to appear on a traffic ticket hearing, paid your bond fee, were released and given a new hearing date for the traffic ticket citation. Such is proper protocol within the judicial process.
With respect to the possession of the controlled substance (marijuana) that you write about either your were not charged for that offense specifically or that it is still in the process of being reviewed for the issuance of a criminal charge against you.
Or, your friend's turning of state's evidence resulted in the marijuana charge being dropped as to both of you as you have written.
Â
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.