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Fixing a Warrant for Your Arrest

Warrant lawyer for Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, criminal defense lawyer Scott Pactor

Do you need help clearing a warrant for your arrest? I am experienced in handling your arrest warrant in Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura. You can call or text me at 1 323 645 0697. Check out my five star Yelp profile.

Many people are worried when they learn they have a warrant for their arrest. They learn about the warrant of arrest from different sources, often times from a background check before being hired for a job, or from a notice sent by law enforcement. An arrest warrant is more serious than a bench warrant, because it means a police officer will arrest you if they find out you have a warrant for your arrest.

Warrants for your arrest can be issued for many different reasons. The most common reason is for failing to appear for a new case, either misdemeanor or felony. I talk to people about warrants for their arrest everyday. Before COVID times, you could get on calendar within a day or two in most counties- same day in Los Angeles, next day in Orange County, next week in San Diego, etc. Now, if you haven’t actually been arrested, it can be hard to get your warrant for arrest lifted. It’s a great time to hire me for this job- the headache alone trying to get on calendar makes it worth it to hire me to clear your arrest warrant.

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Cleared: 10 Year Old DUI Warrant in San Diego

Today I cleared a 10 year old DUI warrant in San Diego. Old warrants are a common reason for calling- I’ve cleared 30 year old warrants. In this case, the client picked up a couple DUI’s in San Diego, but then moved to a different Southern California county, where he was unable to comply with the many onerous requirements of a second time DUI conviction: 96 hours custody, public work service, over three thousand dollar fine.

Fortunately for my client, central San Diego court house is a great place to clear an old warrant because of the frequent tourist and military defendants who may have little or no attachment to San Diego. Today, the client was able to clear his decade old warrant without having to travel to San Diego- saved him a full day at work. It’s not always so easy! He paid 500 dollars.

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True Stories 2: Four Year Old Warrant of Arrest in Orange County

 

Emily X. called me last month with a tough situation- a four year old warrant of arrest in Orange County (Harborside Justice Center/Newport Beach) for failure to complete her 18 month second offender DUI class.  Emily had been living in fear for the last four years, as she raised her son as a single mother- with the warrant out she was afraid of being arrested, but she was also afraid that the Judge in Orange County would send her to jail for failing to clear the warrant.

I charged her 500- standard for a probation revocation, and told her I would go down to Harborside Justice Center by myself the first time, put the case on calendar and talk to the Judge.  Not all Judges will clear warrants without the client present- Orange County is particularly bad in this regard, but even if the Judge won’t clear the warrant, he or she will give an idea of what the punishment is likely to be.

Last month I went down there and the Judge surprisingly cleared the warrant, and agreed to set the revocation hearing out a month, so that Emily could see her kid graduate Junior High.  I’d advised her that jail was a real possibility, and I always want my clients prepared for the worst.   Today was the day of the revocation hearing.

We lucked out and got a visiting Judge- especially in Orange County- getting a Judge other than the “usual” Judge hearing a probation revocation is a win- they are never harsher than the original Judge, and usually they go a lot easier.  Such was the case here, the Judge didn’t even violate Emily, and let her off with 40 hours of community service.

Unfortunately, Emily waited too long to go back to the class, so she has to do the 18 months all over again.  That’s a drag.  When I asked Emily if I could share her story on this blog she said, “Of course- it went a lot better then I was expecting, I’m glad you prepared me for the worst, but now I feel great. I’m so glad it’s over!”