Professional Warrant Attorney in Pomona

In Pomona, bench warrants and arrest warrants serve different purposes. A bench warrant is typically issued when someone fails to appear in court or comply with a court order. It’s called a bench warrant because it’s issued by the judge (or “the bench”). In contrast, an arrest warrant is issued based on probable cause that a person has committed a crime. Both types of warrants authorize law enforcement to take you into custody, but their issuance and purposes differ significantly.

A bench warrant in Pomona is issued when an individual fails to appear in court for a scheduled hearing or neglects a court-ordered obligation. Once issued, law enforcement officers have the legal right to arrest you and bring you before the court. Hiring a seasoned criminal defense attorney in Pomona, like My Rights Law, can help you address the warrant before it leads to an arrest. By doing so, you may be able to resolve the issue without having to be taken into custody.

In Pomona, bench warrants don’t expire. Once issued, they remain active until resolved, meaning you can’t simply “wait out” a bench warrant. Whether it’s been days, months, or years, the warrant stays on your record, and law enforcement can arrest you at any time. It’s crucial to address bench warrants promptly, as ignoring them can lead to more severe legal consequences and complicate future legal matters.

If you have a bench warrant in Pomona, you should take immediate steps to resolve it before facing arrest. Working with a criminal defense attorney can be your best option. At My Rights Law, we specialize in helping clients navigate this complex process. Our team can assist in getting the bench warrant cleared, which may involve negotiating with the court or filing a motion to quash the warrant, potentially preventing an arrest altogether.

An arrest warrant allows law enforcement to take a person into custody based on probable cause that they committed a crime. In Pomona, these warrants are typically issued after an investigation points to you as a suspect in a criminal matter. Unlike bench warrants, which arise from missed court appearances, arrest warrants are connected directly to criminal activity. A judge must sign the warrant and it must detail key information, such as your name, the crime you’re accused of, and the jurisdiction in which it was issued.

Failure to appear occurs when you don’t show up for a scheduled court appearance. In Pomona, this is a serious offense under Penal Codes 1320 and 1320.5. If you were released on your own recognizance or on bail and fail to appear, you could face additional charges. For example, if you miss a court date for a misdemeanor case, failing to appear is also classified as a misdemeanor. But if you were out on bail for a felony charge and fail to show, you could face felony-level penalties.

In Pomona, failing to appear in court can lead to harsh penalties. For a misdemeanor, you could face up to six months in county jail and substantial fines. For felony cases, failing to appear could result in a one to three-year prison sentence. These penalties are in addition to any consequences stemming from your original charges. If you were out on bail and deliberately missed your court date, the penalties could escalate, and you could be charged under Penal Code 1320.5, which deals with felony failure to appear offenses.