Maricopa, CA Criminal Defense Law Firms & Lawyers

It means that you have been charged with a theft offense.  You need to speak with a criminal defense attorney.  If you already have one, contact him or her to discuss the warrant.  If it is a bench warrant for failing to appear, you will want to get put back on calendar within 10 days of missing your court date or you could be facing an additional charge for failing to appear, or at least face the presumption that you were attempting to evade the judicial process.  In either case, speak with an attorney as soon as possible.  If you are contacted by law enforcement, say nothing.  You have the right to remain silent.  Use it.  No amount of talking will solve your problem, unless and until it is to your criminal defense lawyer.

It is a little hard to be specific without the exact charges, including any enhancements or special allegations, but most basic sales cases have a maximum exposure of 4 years. Under a recent law change in California that went into effect on October 1st, it would be a "county jail felony." that having been said, it would be unusual for a first time offender to get the maximum; probation is more likely without any aggravating factors (such as selling a whole lot of the drug), but he could get up to a year of jail time as a condition of probation. It is somewhat surprising that this case has taken 3 years to get to this point - there must be some reason.