I was never arrested for a crime and was sent a court date to appear via phone : I was sent a court date via usps regular mail. It was signed 9/27. I was marked on 10/03 it states I only had 5 days to get an attorney from the date signed I didn't get it until the 5th of October. This is a felony theft crime not sure what to do
Michael’s answer:
You really only have 3 options:
1) Hire private counsel
2) If you can't afford to hire counsel, ask the court to appoint counsel at public expense, a public defender.
3) Represent yourself (a really bad idea).
Can I have my felony dropped?:
My wife and I got into an argument; the vehicle I have been driving to and from work for a little over a year is in her name because I’m a Permanent resident I’m Canada.
She wanted me to sign the truck over to myself but I didn’t do so in the time frame she allotted and reported the truck stolen. Later on she told the arresting police officer we were fighting and she wasn’t reporting truck stolen but it was after the fact.
Can she get these charges dropped?
Michael’s answer: I agree with Mr. Nguyen that your wife cannot "drop" the charges. But she can certainly influence the officer to not charge them or the prosecutor to dismiss them. That said, she would be risking being accused of making a false report which could end up with her being charged with a crime.
I was caught shoplifting from haggen and was charged with a misdemeanor?: I stole about $35 of prepared food from haggen in Bellingham. I got a phone call from the police a few hours later that I was caught on video stealing and that I had been charged. Officer said if I called the store and offered to pay they might drop the charge but they did not. What do I do next? What are the odds I can take a PDP course and not have to go to court? I just don’t know what I’m supposed to do next. I am 20. No previous charges.
Michael’s answer: You should hire counsel or request a public defender to work out your best outcome. Beware of "deferred sentences" as they can be more difficult to vacate in the future.