Bail Jumping and Failure to Appear in Texas
Bail Jumping and Failure to Appear Lawyer in Austin, Texas
CONTACT US TODAY AT 512-457-5200
A bail jumping and failure to appear charge occurs when a person is:
- Released from custody;
- With or without bail;
- On condition that he or she will subsequently appear in court; and,
- He or she intentionally or knowingly fails to appear per the terms of his or her release.
A bail jumping charge is separate and distinct from the original offense. So along with facing a bond forfeiture on the underlying charge, the State often charges you with bail jumping and failure to appear if you fail to appear in court when you scheduled to do so on a criminal charge.
If the State has charged you or someone you know with bail jumping and failure to appear, an experienced criminal defense attorney can help get the charges reduced or ultimately dismissed. I have 20 years of legal experience and currently practice in Central Texas. Call my office today at 512-457-5200.
Potential Consequences
After you are released from jail or issued a citation, the court set to appear. While it is the court’s job to notify you of this date, it is your job to show up. You should do everything in your power to stay on top of court dates. Generally speaking, if you miss your court date, the prosecution will initially blame you even though the statute requires that the State must prove that you intentionally or knowingly missed the court date.
If the crime for which you failed to appear was for a Class C Misdemeanor (no jail time), the State might charge you with a Class C Misdemeanor. A Class C misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of up to $500.
If the crime for which you failed to appear is a Class B or Class A misdemeanor, the associated Bail Jumping Charge is punishable as a Class A misdemeanor.
However, if you fail to appear in court for a felony appearance, the State will charge you with a 3rd Degree Felony. A 3rd Degree felony is punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
There are certain defenses available for bail jumping and failure to appear. You need competent, well-trained defense counsel to present these arguments to both the prosecution and the court. I am that attorney.
Walk-Throughs on Travis County Bail Jumping Charges
I can assist you with a walkthrough in Travis County and get you released on an attorney-assisted personal bond. For all other counties, you will need to contact a bond company to assist with a bond.
Contact Us at 512-457-5200
I am an experienced criminal defense attorney with 20 years of experience. I have helped hundreds of people get their charges reduced or dismissed. I practice throughout Central Texas, including the following counties: Travis, Williamson, Hays, Caldwell, Bastrop, Comal, Lee, Bell, and Coryell. Call my office today at 512-457-5200.
