Arrest Warrants
If there’s a warrant out for your arrest in Las Vegas, it means you are living your life in fear. Every time you get in a car, you are in danger of spending a night in jail, or more. If police pull you over for a minor traffic infraction — speeding, rolling through a stop sign or failure to signal — and you have a warrant, the police will take you into custody.
Las Vegas Warrants Attorney
When you have an outstanding warrant, it means you’re going to have to deal with the Las Vegas criminal justice system. Las Vegas criminal defense lawyer Joel Mann can advise you and represent you on every step of the way through this frightening and confusing time. Joel Mann will fight for your rights while helping you understand your situation and the possible outcomes. Call the Law Office of Joel M. Mann today (702) 474-6266 to set up a free consultation.
Failures to Appear or Bench Warrant in Las Vegas
If you are pulled over for a traffic violation in Las Vegas, the officer will give you a citation that lists a date and time for you to appear in court. This time and date is not your trial. It is an arraignment, where you are to plead guilty or not guilty. Additionally, you may pay the ticket or otherwise take care of the matter by this particular date.
Many people miss the date. They may misunderstand what the court date means and believe they are supposed to have a defense prepared and do not attend. They may believe they must pay the fine by this date and are simply unable to pay. They may intend to go to court, but have an emergency family situation or can’t get off work. People may just forget.
However, when a person misses a court date, the matter does not simply go away. The judge issues a bench warrant or a “failure to appear” warrant. The warrant gives the police the power to take you into custody wherever they find you. It will be listed in a database that is accessible to local law enforcement. If you are pulled over or otherwise are in a situation where a police officer gets hold of your driver’s license, they will often run your name through that database. When they discover your name in the database, they will take you into custody.
There are other ramifications for missing a Court date and a warrant being issued for your failure to appear. One of the most common ramifications for having a failure to appear on your record is when a Judge needs to decide your custody status, the Judge will look to your record of making Court appearances. When the Judge sees you have a history of not appearing at Court appearances, even traffic tickets, the Judge will use this negative information against you during your custody hearing.
While missing court dates for traffic tickets are the most common reason people have failure to appear warrants in Las Vegas, a warrant may be issued for missing any court date.
Arrest Warrant Las Vegas, Clark County
If the Clark County District Attorney files a criminal complaint, pressing charges, or a grand jury returns an indictment against you, the judge will typically sign an arrest warrant. If police can convince a judge they have probable cause that you committed a crime, they can seek an arrest warrant.
With an arrest warrant, police are instructed to find you and put you into custody. They could come to your home or your work and escort you out in handcuffs in front of your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers or boss. If you find out you have a warrant, your best path is to immediately hire a criminal defense lawyer, who can advise you on the best step forward. If you are arrested on an arrest warrant it is critical that you inform the police that you are invoking your Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, and not say another word about your case.
Nevada Search Warrants
There are also search warrants. Search warrants give police the authority to search your property. While the warrant does not give police permission to take you into custody, they may take you into custody if they find something on your property that gives them probable cause to arrest you.
Additionally, a search warrant is usually a clear sign you are being investigated for a crime, and may need the help of a Las Vegas criminal defense attorney.
Law Office of Joel M. Mann | Warrants Lawyer in Las Vegas
If there’s a warrant out for your arrest, the best decision you could make is to seek the advice of experienced criminal defense counsel. Las Vegas criminal defense lawyer Joel Mann has an in-depth knowledge of the Clark County criminal justice system and can represent you at every stage. Call the Law Office of Joel M. Mann today at (702) 474-6266 to schedule a free consultation.