Shoplifting, Larceny, Robbery, Theft Please Help

[kimzie]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this because it deals with various things but please take the time to read and offer any advice you can..

Last year, my grandmother passed away and left my mother her house although it wasn't in a will or anything the family all agreed to sign to let my mother have the house in her name. Well, a few months later my mother could not afford the payments so her sister offered to get the house put in her name so that she would be the landlord and my mom would be the tenant, so she could pay monthly rent. A few more months passed and my mother and aunt started having arguements so she decided to take my mom to court and basically kick us out. We had to be out in 30 days. So we found a new place and moved all of our stuff into the new home. Next thing we knew my mom had a warrant out for her arrest for larceny, "stealing" the stove and refrigerator that was in the house we moved from. My mom bought the stove and fridge and even has reciepts on the appliances where she bought them. How can they take her up for that?

Anyway, she didn't go to court and now it's February. Around 7 tonight, her and my stepdad went to take care of their warrants (Both the same thing) and my mom's bail was set at $5000 and my stepdad's was set at $1000. So they were sent to Dublin VA jail.

I've tried calling everyone i know and no one has property, no one can help. I've called a bailbondsman and to get both of them out it would cost at least $600. There is no way i can afford that. I'm 18 with no job and i'm here watching my 15 year old sister. I really don't know what to do. I'm out of options. All of this and my mom did nothing wrong. I don't understand.

 

[army judge]

Call the jail where your mother is located.

Find out when her next court date will be.

Ask when you can visit your mother.

Go visit your parents when visitation is allowed

Be there at her court hearing.

Your mother will get a court appointed lawyer.

If she has a good record, she'll most likely get bonded out on her own signature and promise to appear at court when ordered.

Call the county probation office and ask them how to help get your parents released on her own recognizance.

You have a lot to do.

Stay calm and stay strong for your family.

This looks bad, but trust me, this is nothing compared to what happens in courts everyday.

It will take a little time to get them out, but it shouldn't be more than 48-72 hours.

If you get nowhere, let me know.

I'm retired, but licensed to practice law in VA.

I'll help you pro bono, if things get stuck, until you parents get their court appointed lawyer.

But, you stick with it.

Your sister needs you to be there.

This is a misunderstanding, that can be fixed with time and patience!




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mightymoose]

Ya... she will only be in the jail until she gets in front of a judge, which will be within a couple days. She might even be given a citation with a court date and released sooner.

This is small potatoes. Don't worry too much. The warrant was likely issued because the property was missing, her sister claimed it was stolen, and your mother could not be located or avoided contact.

If your mom can prove ownership of the property then she has nothing to worry about. However, if her sister can prove that the items were purchased by your mom instead of paying rent, or some circumstance like that, then she may be on the hook for something. The simplest solution would be to return the property. She may escape this without a criminal charge.

 

[kimzie]

I called the jail and they won't let me talk to her. They also didn't tell me a court date. I've tried asking people for help but no one will..

 

[mightymoose]

Contact the jail and find out when you can visit.
If your mom was arrested on a warrant then she should either post bail or wait until she gets in front of a judge, which should occur within 48 hours of her arrest, not counting weekends or holidays.
She should be out soon... probably before you get a chance to visit.