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Arrested on 4 year old warrant for possession.

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C

crsthorn

Guest
What is the name of your state?
Utah

I was recently arrested on a 4 year old warrant. The reason I was even stopped was because my car is missing it's front license plate, the highway patrolman ran a check and found a warrant for my arrest from 4 years ago.

I have already scheduled a new court appearance for next Monday. I have obtained a copy of the dockett detailing the charges I am up against. They are, 1) Posession of Drug Paraphernelia, Class B Misdemeanor, 2) Posession of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana) Class B Misdemeanor, 3) Possession of Tobacco By a Minor, Infraction. and 4) Failure to Appear or Comply, Class B Misdemeanor.

My question is, What is likely to happen to me because of these charges? Originally, I was arrested in April of 1999, the officer released me that night by calling a cab to take me home, I was not given a citation indicating when to appear for court, the officer told me that I would be contacted on when to go. So I waited, and heard nothing. I called the court house to see if a date was set, but the person I spoke with said that I was not in their system and to just continue to wait. I waited and still heard nothing, and then just forgot about it and heard nothing about it until last week when I was arrested.

The dockett indicates that the case was not even filed against me until June of 1999. By that time I had moved to another address. The dockett indicates that they attempted to contact me by mail but it was returned due to the residence being vaccant at that time. Then a new warrant was issued for my arrest a year later in August of 2000 with a note saying it was Probable Cause.

Now it is 4 years later, I do not do drugs any longer, and haven't for approximately 3 and 1/2 years or more. I am attending college, (completed 2 years so far) and have a job.

I guess my main concern is that I will lose my eligibility for Financial Aid at school, or I will lose my ability to go to school by an excessive fine or loss of my driving privilage. I have never been in this type of situation before, so I have no idea what i'm up against or even what to expect. Will the fact that I no longer do drugs and am attending school count for anything? Or perhaps the fact that it took 4 years and the lamest excuse on the planet to pull someone over to serve me this warrant?

If anyone could offer any advice or suggestions on what I should do, I would greatly appreciate it. Should I attend the court hearing with a lawyer present? or would that just make matters worse? Again, any help is appreciated.
Thank you.
 



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