Confused in CT
Junior Member
Connecticut
First of all, thanks to anyone taking the time to read and help me out.
I recently was arrested on grounds of a Failure to Appear in court in Derby, Connecticut on 11/19/09 to pay a $50 fine for a ticket I got for driving under a suspended license, and failure to obey traffic signals (drove through a red light.)
I realize I made a big mistake by getting the ticket in the first place, and of course for not being able to make it to court that day to resolve the issue.
So when I had realized I missed my court date, I called the courthouse and they told me there was a re-warrant for my arrest. I called the Ansonia police, and they told me to come in the morning and I would have to wait in a cell, then be brought to the judge that day and bond/bail out.
I was released on $100 bond, and have another court date in about a week.
My questions:
What should I expect in court? Is there a chance there will be significant consequences I should prepare for somehow?
Am I entitled to a public defender? How do I get in touch with one? What can he or she do for me?
And lastly and most importantly- Is there any way to remove a FTA from my criminal record? I don't want this really careless mistake be a serious stain on my record and limit my opportunities in the future for success. How do I put this behind me without severely cutting the legs out from underneath me with an arrest on an otherwise spotless criminal record? Is expungement a possibility?
Thanks very much for your time
First of all, thanks to anyone taking the time to read and help me out.
I recently was arrested on grounds of a Failure to Appear in court in Derby, Connecticut on 11/19/09 to pay a $50 fine for a ticket I got for driving under a suspended license, and failure to obey traffic signals (drove through a red light.)
I realize I made a big mistake by getting the ticket in the first place, and of course for not being able to make it to court that day to resolve the issue.
So when I had realized I missed my court date, I called the courthouse and they told me there was a re-warrant for my arrest. I called the Ansonia police, and they told me to come in the morning and I would have to wait in a cell, then be brought to the judge that day and bond/bail out.
I was released on $100 bond, and have another court date in about a week.
My questions:
What should I expect in court? Is there a chance there will be significant consequences I should prepare for somehow?
Am I entitled to a public defender? How do I get in touch with one? What can he or she do for me?
And lastly and most importantly- Is there any way to remove a FTA from my criminal record? I don't want this really careless mistake be a serious stain on my record and limit my opportunities in the future for success. How do I put this behind me without severely cutting the legs out from underneath me with an arrest on an otherwise spotless criminal record? Is expungement a possibility?
Thanks very much for your time
