What to do if I received a letter from a magisterial court for an incident that happened 20 years ago?
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What to do if I received a letter from a magisterial court for an incident that happened 20 years ago?
I called and they told me it’s for a criminal mischief. I was never arrested nor issued a citation then as I was in high school. I enlisted in the Marine Corps immediately after graduation and nothing was brought up at the time. Is it in my best interest to hire an attorney to fight this for me? Should I travel back across state to appear in court or should I just pay the fine of $482 and plead guilty. I have a spotless record and want to keep it this way. Is there any advice on how to handle this? I don’t even know what this 20 year old citation is pertaining to.
Asked on April 1, 2013 under Criminal Law, Pennsylvania
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
Given what you have written about I suggest that you consult with a criminal defense attorney as to the best way to try and get the matter resolved. Possibly the statute of limitations to pursue the matter has long run and the matter will be dismissed.
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