Shannon Derek Coach

It is illegal to knowingly fail to appear in court when you've been summoned, arrested with a court-ordered release condition, cited instead of arrested, or issued a criminal summons. Failure to appear is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 11 months 29 days in jail and a $2,500 fine. A defense exists if you had a reasonable excuse for missing the court date.

Penalty: Class A misdemeanor; 11 months 29 days; fine up to $2,500

A court can only punish someone for contempt of court in these specific situations: (1) someone behaves disruptively in or near the courtroom and interferes with justice; (2) a court officer misbehaves in their official duties; (3) someone refuses to follow the court's orders, writs, or commands; (4) someone tampers with or interferes with court documents or proceedings; (5) someone illegally talks to jurors about the case; or (6) any other act the law specifically calls contempt. A court cannot punish for contempt in any other situation.

Penalty: Classification not specified