Salt Lake Criminal Defense - How to Clear a Bench Warrant
If you have an active
bench warrant or outstanding arrest
warrant, you are at risk of being arrested and taken to jail at any
time. In Utah, there are several possible ways to handle your
warrant. Going through a
bail bonds company is not your only
option. As an experienced
criminal
defense lawyer based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Stephen Howard
may be able to save you thousands of dollars.
One
option for dealing with a warrant is to go through a bail bondsman. The advantage to this option is that it is relatively swift
and
sure. You contact the bondsman and pay a fee (typically 10%
of
the bail amount), and the bondsman posts a bond for you. The
disadvantage is that the fee you have paid is non-refundable. For
example, if you have a $25,000 warrant, you will have to pay a
non-refundable fee of $2,500 to a bondsman. You may also be
required to put up some other collateral, such as allowing the
bondsman to put a lien against your home.
But there are other options for dealing with your warrant. Salt Lake County
Pre-Trial Services can
supervise people while their criminal cases are pending, without
requiring the posting of a bond. A judge may also be willing
to
recall your warrant if the court is convinced that you will voluntarily
appear for your court hearings. A demonstration that you have
strong ties to the community, a stable residence, and steady employment
can help convince the judge that you are not a flight risk. On
less serious charges, a judge may also allow you to simply sign a
promise to appear.
Before deciding how to handle your outstanding Salt Lake County bench
warrant, you should talk to an experienced
Salt
Lake criminal lawyer. Stephen Howard has handled
more serious felony charges than most attorneys will see in an entire
career. His
record of
results
for clients includes not guilty verdicts or dismissals on cases
including aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, fraud,
theft, drug distribution, DUI, and many more.
Contact us now to see
what an experienced criminal lawyer can do for you.

Being charged with a crime is not the same as being convicted. But just being charged can affect more than you may have imagined - jail, job, family, bills, rent or mortgage. It can feel like everything has gone wrong, and may you wonder if anything can go right. But facing criminal prosecution does not mean giving up hope....
Reasons to Hope
»