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9908241965 3258 reads
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I was arrested on misdemeanor prostitution charges in Troy Michigan in August 2011.  I never went back for my courtdate.  Any feedback?

BigPapasan1832 reads

...from the prostitution charge called Failure to Appear.  A bench warrant may be issued for your arrest so that if you are stopped for a traffic violation, jaywalking, etc., and the cop runs your license, you will immediately be arrested for the FTA.  See link for Legal Beagle's previous post on FTA.

Related Link: Legal Beagle -- 4/24/2011

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JB19822450 reads

in a LOT of jurisdictions, it's the Failure to Appear that is the more serious charge and the one that get's you in jail.  

It makes the prosecutor's job REALLY easy cuz regardless of the merits of the prostitution charge, Failure to Appear is REALLY is to prove.  So they have probably got you one way or the other now.  

It's never a good idea to just blow off going to court.  A lot of times it looks like this............

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pwilley1465 reads

I urge you to consult with an attorney and get this taken care of voluntarily at your own initiative.  The alternative is that you will one day face this entirely on someone else's terms and it won't be pretty.

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legaleagle751952 reads

Everything said before is true and accurate. An FTA is nothing to laugh at. Most likely a bench warrant was issued for your arrest. This could pop up anytime LEO runs your info. This includes TSA as well. While you will not be put on a no-fly list, if TSA feels you look or act suspicious, they can request an enhanced search which may reveal the warrant.

You need to consult with and hire an attorney in the jurisdiction where the charge is pending (not one where you live). He may be able to negotiate a plea deal. If you are lucky, you won't have to return to Michigan for disposition but you still might have to.

Court dates are like STDs, nothing good ever comes from ignoring them.

P.S. Even though I am an attorney, nothing I say should be taken as actual legal advice outside of the State of Connecticut.

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BigPapasan1467 reads

...the Public Defender's office.  They are in the same courts as the prosecutors so they have developed a rapport and often get better deals than lawyers who don't appear very often in the court where your case will be heard.  I'm not sure, but I don't think the PD will represent you by long distance; you may have to be in the jurisdiction.

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DAVEPHX2018 reads

From extensive experience with the 100 agency cases and now 39 from the latest Phoenix Temple Raid, I assume were just given a ticket and failed to appear at initial appearance or arraignment - state laws differ.

You can often arrange self- surrender vs being arrested - you then appear before a judge for bail etc.  Then initial pretrials etc and some where along the way maybe a plea deal like escorting without a license if required vs prostitution conviction.  In AZ prostitution first offense has mandatory  minimum 15 days in jail - usually our Tent City - hot in Summer, cold in Winter since outdoors.

Here in Phoenix even just prostitution may require $5000 bail or if lucky OR release but depends on the judge and mood.  If arrested you get the jail judge who may be less friendly.

If you are in another state vs where charged, the local authorities have to come and get you.  Phoenix PD will go get those with warrants all over the U.S.

The recent Phoenix cases are all more serious felonies in addition to prostitution, with Grand Jury indictments, since more than one gal working together so it becomes a criminal enterprise issue. Some have bail at $50,000 one was $1 million (head) but got reduced and out on home arrest after a month.

Board reviews and web ads own site or backpage often used.  Current case against 39 now has 10,500 pages of Discovery including website and review board materials


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dncphil1166 reads

With computers, every year it gets harder to hide.  They may not be "actively" looking, but as systems are linked, things will become harder to hide.

You can move from Michigan, but if 15 years you may apply for a job in Florida, at which time you could be asked, "Have you ever been arrested or convicted of anything?"  It is very possible that in a few years there can be nationwide data bases of criminal information, and that could be tripped.

I have handled "failure to appear" for minor matters for friends, and the consequences are so minor if you go in willingly.  Every jurisdiction is overloaded, and they really don't want to fill jails with people who are truly repentant for minor matters.  The best way to prove that is to go in and say you are sorry. You realize it is dumb.

In a city that size, you may even be able to do the court appearance without anyone knowing.  I have handled one case where that happened.  
Talk to a local attorney. He will know best.

Posted By: 9908241965
I was arrested on misdemeanor prostitution charges in Troy Michigan in August 2011.  I never went back for my courtdate.  Any feedback?

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mrfisher1386 reads

If you do not get this straightened out, and you get a letter in the mail saying that you have won a free boat and just have to come down to some location in Troy and claim it, don't go.

Seriously dude, clean up that mess.  What ever it costs, it will be worth it.

(still not a lawyer)

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G21397 reads

But as others have said, this is no laughing matter, so be an adult and get it taken care of before a minor screw-up turns into a major one.

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rippedfromtheheadlines2099 reads

6 months manditory loss of license.  Got caught driving again...  and again...  and again.  I figure he'll get his right to apply for a driver's license back in 50 years or so...  if they don't catch him again.  He doesn't even need to break any traffic laws...   It would have been so much smarter (and cheaper) to have hired a taxi for 6 months...

You have the time...  figure out how to voluntarily fix this...  have a lawyer lined up, bail money set, on your own terms.

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