Violation of Bail Bond Conditions is charged frequently in Fort Collins. Any time a person on bond fails to appear at the Larimer County Courts for any of his hearings, he will be criminally charged with Violation of Bail Bond Conditions. This can come with a plethora of consequences, including new criminal charges and being brought back to the Larimer County Jail. Our top criminal defense lawyers advise that if you are out on bond, you should never skip any of your court appearances. If you have been accused of bail jumping, you will need to call a top criminal defense attorney to represent you and protect you from these consequences.
1. Definition of Violation of Bail Bond Conditions, C.R.S. 18-8-212 at the Larimer County Courts
Violation of Bail Bond Conditions, C.R.S. 18-8-212, is charged at the Larimer County Courts whenever a person released on bond fails to appear for any of her court hearings. Any time a person bonds out of the Larimer County Jail, they are required to be present for all court appearances throughout the case. Whether intentional or accidental, failure to appear at the Larimer County Courts for any hearings can be costly.
If you are released on bond, it is imperative that you always show up for court, no matter how your case is going. Many people are tempted to bail jump when they perceive that the case is going poorly. However, failing to appear only ensures that you will reap greater consequences.
2. What is Bail / Bond in Fort Collins, and What are its Conditions?
At the Larimer County Jail in Fort Collins, bail / bond is a set amount of money that a person who has been arrested must pay to be released back into the community. In some cases, the judge will authorize another type of bail, such as a personal recognizance bond, instead of money. Bail acts as an agreement between the defendant and the Larimer County Courts. If the defendant attends all the court hearings throughout the case, the bail amount will be returned in full at the conclusion of the case – even if the end result of the case is a conviction. If the defendant misses any of the court appearances, however, a bench warrant for an arrest will be issued, and the money will not be returned.
3. What are the Penalties for Failure to Appear / Bail Jumping in Loveland and Estes Park?
There are several penalties that come with failure to appear – also known as bail jumping – in Loveland and Estes Park. These include:
- Being brought back to the Larimer County Jail, where you will most likely stay for the remainder of your case. It is difficult for defendants who have failed to appear to post bond again, as they are seen as a flight risk.
- Loss of your bail bond
- New criminal charges. In addition to the crime with which you were initially charged, you will now face a new charge of Violation of Bail Bond Conditions. Depending on the offense with which you were first charged, Violation of Bail Bond Conditions will be a class 2 misdemeanor or class 6 felony.
- Ineligibility for probation or a suspended sentence if you were on bond for a sex crime. In this case, if you are convicted of Violation of Bail Bond Conditions, you will be sentenced to a minimum of 1 year in the Larimer County Jail.
- Consecutive sentencing. If you are convicted of your Violation charges, you must serve your sentence consecutively. This means that once your first sentence ends for the crime of which you were initially convicted, you then begin your next sentence. You cannot serve these sentences concurrently.
4. Talk to a Top Larimer County Criminal Defense Lawyer Today
If you have been accused of violating bail bond conditions or failure to appear, you need to talk to a top Larimer County criminal defense lawyer today. The penalties that come with Violation of Bail Bond Conditions will cost you your future, and only an experienced lawyer can protect it. Don’t wait to contact a lawyer who will represent you fiercely at the Larimer County Courts.
Have you been charged with Violation of Bail Bond Conditions? Be smart, and exercise your right to stay silent. Then get in contact with a criminal lawyer with decades of experience at the O’Malley Law Office today at 970-658-0007 to discuss your charges. Together, we can protect your future.
The location for the Larimer County Courthouse is 201 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado. We’ll see you there!
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