Elizabeth Loretta Cawood's Answers

Missed Court Date

In Maryland, you can file a "Motion to Quash" the bench warrant. In your motion, state the reasons why you missed your court date, and any other relevant information regarding why it would be an undue hardship for you to be arrested and jailed (health problems, caring for children or disabled relatives, etc., if any of these situations apply to you). Request that the court "quash" (recall) the bench warrant and give you a new court date. Attach a proposed order to the motion for a judge to...

13 people marked this answer as helpful

Punishment and sentencing for juvenile charged with grand theft in state of maryland

Your child should definitely get a lawyer. If you can not afford one, apply to the Office of the Public Defender. In Maryland, the court procedures are different for juveniles than they are for adults. Your child could have a trial (called an adjudicatory hearing, in juvenile court) before a judge, but not a jury trial, as he could have in adult court. If he were to be found "involved," the juvenile equivalent of guilty, the court would order a pre-disposition investigation report, in which...

5 people marked this answer as helpful

What is the process of getting a public defender

Go to the local Office of the Public Defender and apply (I would recommend calling first, to see when their intake hours are and what documents you need to bring for income verification). You must apply no later than ten business days before your court date, though the sooner you apply, the sooner you will be assigned an attorney (they will tell you if you qualify financially for their services, as you must be under a certain income level), and the sooner your attorney will be able to begin...

2 people marked this answer as helpful

Under MD law, ordered to pay restitution and on probation, do i have to have a job

If the only condition is to pay restitution, you will not be violated for not having a job. However, most supervised probations in Maryland have the condition "work or attend school regularly," which is a separate condition from the restitution condition. If you are on supervised probation, ask your agent if that is a condition of your probation. If it is a condition, you could be violated for not having a job. However, if you lost your job, notify your agent and keep a clear record of all...

1 person marked this answer as helpful

Retail Theft Felony charge Ltd -- I work for Federal Government.

If you are convicted, they could fire you and you could lose your security clearance, if you have one. You should tell your manager. For one reason, pending charges are public record an if your manager stumbles across the information by some other source besides your disclosing it to him, that is likely to make the situation worse. Some states have options such as community service and/or theft education programs, and the state's attorney may agree to place your case on an inactive (stet)...

1 person marked this answer as helpful

What state determines the calculation of child support

As your case is in New York, the state of New York's guidelines would apply. However, if both you and your child's other parent live in Maryland now, you may be able to get your case transferred from New York to Maryland.