When you’re facing a misdemeanor, you know that there can be serious consequences. You’re facing jail time, fines and possibly actions against your driver’s license. This can affect your life and livelihood. Even though this is all bad enough, there are some things you can do to make the situation worse. Here are 5 surefire ways to make a criminal charge worse:
Missing a Court Date
If you miss a court date, the court can swear out a warrant for your arrest. Any failure to appear sends the message to the court that you’re not taking the case seriously. Make sure you always know when your next court date is. Don’t offer excuses for why you can’t make your court date, because court dates are not negotiable.
Not Following Bond Conditions
When you have a pending misdemeanor charge, you’re usually granted bond. Bond almost always comes with bond conditions. You may be ordered not to use alcohol or illegal substances. You may have to avoid contact with one or more individuals. If you violate your bond conditions, you can end up in jail until the case resolves.
Talking About the Case
You know how the police tell you that what you say can and will be used against you in a court of law? They mean it. What you say is almost always admissible in court. If you tell the police or a friend that you’re guilty, the state’s attorney can admit your statement in court. Your best bet is to talk only with your attorney.
Not Telling Your Attorney the Whole Story
If your attorney is going to represent you well, they need to know the good, the bad and the ugly. Don’t try to minimize the situation or lie to your attorney. Telling them the entire story helps them give you good advice, and it helps them prepare your best defense.
Picking Up New Charges
Defending one misdemeanor charge is hard enough. Fighting two sets of charges is even more challenging. Now is the time that you want to convince the court that your criminal behavior doesn’t really represent who you are. New criminal charges make it much harder to get a favorable sentence. Now is the time to be very careful to follow the laws.
Getting Back On Track
No matter how minor it might seem, any criminal charge can change your life. When things get bad, the best thing to do is stop making them worse. Avoiding these things can help you address the charges against you and create a plan to move forward.
References
https://justlegal.com/articles/client-resources/failure-to-appear-faq
http://www.bourdondefence.com/breach-charge-calgary/
https://www.livesaymyers.com/help-criminal-attorney-defend-you/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/breaking-the-cycle-of-repeat-crime-offenders/