Imagine that you were vacationing in Moab, Utah. You are arrested for marijuana possession and intoxication. Your plane leaves the next day and you return to California. Moab police cited and released you with criminal charges and told to report to the Moab City Justice Court within 5-14 days, or risk a bench warrant issuing for your arrest.
How do you hire a good out-of-state attorney in Utah to handle your Moab misdemeanor charges? What do you look for in selecting a reputable out-of-state criminal defense attorney?
Facing out of state criminal charges can be stressful, especially if you don’t know where to start when choosing the right attorney. Here’s a guide to help you evaluate and hire the best criminal defense attorney to protect your rights.
Before hiring a lawyer for out of state criminal charges, look at their Google Reviews. Reviews from previous clients can reveal the attorney’s:
For example, Utah criminal defense attorney Jake Gunter has stellar reviews highlighting his expertise and dedication to clients. You can check his reviews here.
A professional LinkedIn profile reflects whether the attorney specializes in criminal defense. Here’s what to look for:
Why Specialization Matters: Hiring a general practice attorney for serious charges is like seeing a foot doctor for heart surgery—it’s not a good idea. For out of state criminal charges, you need a lawyer who focuses specifically on criminal law and understands the nuances of cases across state lines.
When dealing with out of state criminal charges, the size and reputation of the attorney’s firm can be a deciding factor:
For instance, Jake Gunter is a partner at Provo Lawyers, a reputable firm with a proven record of handling criminal defense cases.
When choosing an attorney for out of state criminal charges, prioritize:
If you’re facing out of state criminal charges, don’t leave your future to chance. Contact a specialized attorney like Jake Gunter to ensure your case is in expert hands.
For additional insights on Criminal Defense Law and to get to know Jake Gunter better, check out these helpful videos:
These resources will provide you with valuable information as you consider your legal options. For any questions or to schedule a free consultation, feel free to reach out to us directly.
Yes. Your local California attorney, or New York attorney, can help your out-of-state attorney with your Utah charges. This generally happens with larger felonies. Your local attorney can swear into the Utah Bar Pro Hac Vice. It’s means that just for this case, your local attorney can practice law in Utah under the license of your out-of-state attorney.
First you select a qualified Utah criminal defense attorney. Your local attorney can make the call, or you can make the call. Attorney Jake Gunter does Zoom, Facetime or other video conferences with out-of-state clients. You can make a payment over the phone and the price doesn’t go up just because you are an out-of-state offender. Price is determined by what the client wants to do with the charges, the complexity of the charges, the required pretrial motion practice and whether a jury trial is sought.
No. Attorney Jake Gunter would enter his legal appearance on your behalf and tells the court that he is your attorney. Concurrently, your out-of-state attorney files a motion to excuse your absence from the court hearings. With misdemeanors, motions to excuse your presence are regularly granted. With felonies, motions to excuse you are rarely granted.
Either the case proceeds to a jury trial where you will need to eventually show up to the trial in-person, or, the entire case is resolved via the mail, with what’s called a Plea by Mail/Affidavit.
If you failed to appear at your Utah court date because you live out-of-state, a bench warrant will be issued for your arrest. As a general rule, smaller misdemeanor cases will not result in extradition from your home state back to Utah. It just means that a live warrant will be on the books in Utah. In the event you are passing through and get a speeding ticket, you will be arrested and booked into jail. See if you have a Utah Warrant here. Utah Warrant Search.
You can fix the warrant by hiring an out-of-state attorney in Utah to move the court to lift the warrant and set the matter for a pretrial hearing. Then, your attorney in Utah can concurrently move the court to excuse your presence and thereafter resolve the pending charges. This is possible with a plea by mail.
Handing Utah criminal cases state wide. Free consultation via Skype, Zoom, or other video conferences means. (801) 373-6345.
Jake Gunter commonly follows the following cities and counties.
West Valley City. Moab City, Grand County. Nephi, Juab County. Fillmore City, Millard County. Wasatch County, Heber City. Park City. Cedar Hills, Utah County. Saratoga Springs / Eagle Mountain.