So many problems - should I just flee?

[gaus]

This is my description of the situation my brother has found himself in, please let me know your thoughts and advice:

He has 4 pending court dates in 3 counties in the state of Colorado.

All of these are first appearances for offenses: (example: one appearance is for one charge of DUR combined with the wreckless driving charge and failure to appear..)

4 Driving under revocations, 1 wreckless driving, 1 failure to appear.

He is currently out on a bond, cannot afford a lawyer and cannot afford to go to jail (nor does he want to - also a junky and getting thrown in jail and going through withdrawls there would 1) be horrible, 2) put him at a huge disadvantage since he would not be able to protect himself because he would be too weak/sick) He does not want to put my future in the hands of a court appointed lawyer because he's heard nothing but negative experiences with this. He is thinking of appearing for scheduled hearings to comply with bond conditions, being found guilty and not showing up again for sentencing or anything else. He is so dumb that he thinks he can hide out in Hawaii of all places for 7 years and not risk ever being extradited back to the mainland or be detained/arrested if ever pulled over, etc.. Is this the most ridiculous thing he could think of doing, and why? I need an argument to present to my brother so he will understand that he is just digging an even deeper hole for his sorry self.

Thank you.

[rmet4nzkx]

How old are you and how do his criminal problems affect your future?

[Happy Trails]

Your post is a bit confusing.

"should I just flee?"

"situation my brother has found himself in"

"He does not want to put my future in the hands of a court"

"I need an argument to present to my brother so he will understand that he is just digging an even deeper hole for his sorry self."

[gaus]

I am 35.. He is my brother and I am concerned about him. I would like to have some concrete facts regarding statute of limitations, extradidtion between Hawaii and Colorado, etc.. so that I may convince him that becoming a fugitive is not the way to go. He thinks he can just hide out in Hawaii and surf for the next 7 years (for some reason he thinks the statute of limitations is 7 years) and have no worries.

I originally wrote this post in first person then changed it to third and left in some I's ... Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[gaus]

"He does not want to put my future in the hands of a court appointed lawyer"

read: "He does not want to put his future in the hands of a court appointed lawyer"

gaus

[CdwJava]

He has already been charged. The statute of limitations will NOT expire, he will get a warrant if he flees, and it will ALWAYS be there. if any of these charges are felonies, there is a strong possibility of extradition.

If he/you want(s) to live the rest of his/your days looking over his/your shoulder, then by all means - go right ahead and run.

The warrant won't expire.

With a warrant a chance of a decent job and maybe even a driver's license are slim.

And then there is the nasty little problem of forfeiting bail ... whoever put up collateral for the bond will LOSE that collateral. I hope that he/you doesn't/don't like the people who will lose their house or car over his/your running away.

- Carl