How serious is my situation? Need help desperately !?

Question

Two years ago in Toronto, I got into a fight with a man and I got arrested for assault. I was only about 17 years old then. I was living with my Aunt. After bailing me out, she forced me back to India. I missed my court date.

I returned to Canada (but this time I was in Ottawa) one year ago and I was studying to get into university. I managed to get accepted into the engineering faculty and decided to go to India for one last vacation. When I returned to Canada (Ottawa), i was pulled aside by customs and he told me that there is a warrant out for my arrest !

I was shocked and didn't understand what was happening. But then it all added up in my head. He told me that he was'nt going to arrest me since it happened in Toronto. He advised me to turn myself inn.

I am very scared, I don't want to lose everything I worked so hard for. Could I be locked up for a long time for being a "run-away" for 2 years?

What am I looking at here?

Help and Answers are appreciated.

Thank you.

Answer 1

You are a fugitive felon which violates your visa.  You do the math.  I'd be applying to Bombay U if I were you.

Answer 2

Its going to be up to a judge. It must have been a misdemenor offense otherwise they would have extradited you to the state your warrant is issued in. Most of the time you can present yourself to the jail and have yourself bonded back out within the day. Then they may issue you a new court date. But I am not 100 precent sure if they wont hold you until your new court date considering you missed the first one. But until you get the issue resolved it could keep you out of school. You should contact the county in which the warrant is filed and talk to their jail to find out how they do things.

Answer 3

do you need to even turn yourself in? will they bother to come and arrest you in a different city?

Answer 4

Contact an attorney immediately. Explain that you were a minor, your guardian forced you to leave the country, and you didn't understand what was happening.

Assualt wouldn't normally get you in too much trouble. Leaving the country for two years would.

Answer 5

Fugitive Felon is right.  

Go back to India.  Don't worry, you can find a customer service or tech support job.

Answer 6

Be honest and get a lawyer.

Answer 7

I'm not sure how Canada works, but I know in the states its always best to turn yourself in before they catch you again.  Its not so much as to "what you did", its more about not showing up for court.  Go and explain the situation.  You can also get advice from an attorney, but I wouldn't wait too long.  Good luck to you!

Answer 8

GET AN ATTORNEY BEFORE YOU TURN YOURSELF IN. Similar experience happend to a friend. He turned himself in and made bail. They scheduled a court date and he got a HUGE fine (thanks to having an attorney). That was all that happened. It cost the government too much money to put people in jail. There was just an article in the paper about how they have let a lot of people out of jail and given them a different sentence such as community service for lesser crimes. Good luck! =) And to the other people... dont be so judgmentive of him. He is asking a question, he is not asking to be ridiculed.

Answer 9

You should be fine. Contact an attorney and arrange to turn yourself in. You may find that the victim is no longer interested.  

Answer 10

You need to go to court. Tell the truth, obviously, that your aunt sent you back to India, and you had no say. I really don't know why you assaulted someone, but if you're guilty, since it was two years ago and you were a legal minor then... well, I don't know how it works in Canada, but here in the US of A you wouldn't be given such strict charges.

I'm sorry I can't do any more, I'm just some kid down south.

Answer 11

you have to answer the warrant. the judge is going to ask you why did you flee. you better have a good answer. since it's more than 2 years, maybe someone beat this guy to death, in that case your case will be thrown out.

Answer 12

getting into fights is not cool, that should be for sparring, for fun, for horseplay.