I have a warrant out for my arrest for food stamp fraud. The amount is $3,500. Can I just pay this amount and be done?

I would advise you that anything you post to the internet is not confidential and could be used against you in your case.....

The amount of bond set on your warrant has nothing to do with an amount that you can pay to settle the case. It is the amount that a judge has set for you to secure your release prior to trial. Several Texas jurisdictions offer what is called a personal bond. Basically, as long as you have no serious criminal record and have references who will verify your address and that you will make it to court, your promise to appear is enough to secure your release. Other options include posting the entire $3,500 (known as a cash bond). The county holds this money until your case is resolved, less a small administrative fee (2 or 3%; it's set by law). The problem with this bond is that you can't get to that money until your case is resolved. The final option is to get a bail bond company to act as your surety. They typically want from 10-20% of the bond amount to act as your surety and this amount is non-refundable. (Some jurisdictions allow a cash deposit bond where you post 10% of the bond amount yourself, but this is only the practice in a few counties that I know of). If you can get no bond, you will sit in jail until the case is resolved. This is usually the worst option as you are not in a position to help your lawyer secure the best result possible for you.

A lawyer may be able to help get you a personal bond for a fee and do a process called a walk-through in which you will not have to actually be processed through the county jail. I would recommend that you speak to an attorney in Conroe or whatever county this application took place in as soon as possible. They will be able to answer your questions in greater detail and give you advice in an confidential environment.

Disclaimer: This answer is provided as a public service and as a general response to a general question, it is not meant, and should not be relied upon as specific legal advice, nor does it create an attorney-client relationship.

The short answer is no, you cannot just pay the amount and be done. It is considered to be a felony fraud case. You need to contact a lawyer. At a minimum, you should consult with a lawyer to determine the steps to take in Montgomery County. Most lawyers allow a free first visit. It may be that a deal can be worked out for repayment, but my guess is that the woman who interviewed you is not going to admit that she did not conduct the full interview required by her job (or she would lose her job) and that there will be a factual dispute. Moreover, you will be ineligible to receive benefits for a period of time if you took a conviction (or a deferred adjudication) on this case. It is not a small matter.