Failure To Appear

Did You Miss A Court Date In California?

While missing an anniversary can get you in trouble with your spouse, and missing a payment deadline can result in some expensive reminders, missing a court date is far more serious. An appointment in court is not a request; it is an order and an integral part of judicial proceedings, especially criminal ones. And the more serious the crime you are charged with, the more severe the penalties are for failing to show.

Even if you are completely innocent.

Fortunately, it is also possible to defend against the extra charges for failing to appear in court. In California, criminal defense lawyer Don Matson can handle both the original charge and any failure to appear charges you might be facing, though it is always better to contact him before, rather than after, you make that mistake.

Failed To Appear In Court? Better Call Don

Donald “Don” Matson is a highly experienced and well-respected California defense attorney. He never misses a court date, and when he speaks, prosecutors and judges listen.

Attorney Don Matson treats every case as if it were his own life, freedom, or career on the line. His personalized, patient, and tireless approach has changed the lives of countless Californians. Including several whose only real mistake was failing to show up in court.

When one of his clients with a domestic violence charge discovered there was an existing warrant out for his arrest for a failure to appear in court on a drug charge over a year ago, Don Matson got to work, getting both the DV case lowered and classes instead of a drug conviction on the earlier charge.

How? Because he knows what judges and prosecutors need to hear, and how to take advantage of every right and protection under the law. And because he believes in his clients and fights tirelessly for them. And the first step in that fight is ensuring you understand your rights and the risks you are taking when you fail to show up in court.

What Are The Possible Legal Consequences For Failing To Appear?

No matter what crime you may have been charged with, failing to appear in court can be considered a new one. However, the severity of the consequences for failing to appear varies depending on the initial crime you were charged with in California.

• If you were facing a misdemeanour charge, even a single failure to appear could result in up to six months in county jail and $1,000 in additional fines.
• If the original criminal charge was for a possible felony, missing your court date could add a separate (and additional) felony charge, with penalties of up to three years in state prison and a fine between $5,000 and $10,000.
• In either case, you could be charged with Failure To Appear (FTA), and a bench warrant may be issued, leading to your arrest.

Failure to appear can also lead to additional harmful consequences, even if you have already been convicted for the original charge:

• Each failure to appear can also count as a violation of the terms of your probation and could lead to its revocation.
• These charges can also bar future expungement efforts, so each time you do not show up in court, it becomes exponentially more difficult to clear your criminal record later.

As a result, Failure To Appear (FTA) charges should never be taken lightly, as they represent a threat to your immediate freedom and your future, family, and career.

Missed Your Court Date? Call Don Today!

Defense attorney Don Matson works around the clock to protect the rights and freedoms of ordinary Californians just like you. Whether you forgot your court date, were prevented from attending, or were afraid to go, he can help minimize the legal consequences of your failure to appear.

Facing worries over your failure to appear? Bring the problem to Don! Call (626) 209-4058 to set up a consultation with defense attorney Don Matson today.