Legal Rights

  1. You have the right to an attorney to represent you, and the right to have your case continued for a reasonable time to secure an attorney. If you are charged with an offense potentially punishable by a sentence of confinement and you are unable to afford an attorney and wish to have one appointed for you, your case will be transferred to the Licking County Municipal Court in order apply for a court appointed attorney.
  2. You have the right to bail, if you are charged with a bailable offense.
  3. You have the right to remain silent. This means you cannot be compelled to make any statement or provide testimony which might incriminate you. In other words, you need not make any statement at any point in the proceeding. Any statement you do make can and may be used against you.
  4. In certain cases you have the right to a jury trial. If your case qualifies and you wish to have a jury trial, you must make a request to the court. Your case will then be transferred to the Licking County Municipal Court. If you wish for this court to hear your case, you will be asked to sign a waiver of your right to a jury trial.
  5. You have the right to have your guilt proved beyond a reasonable doubt. This means that at trial enough evidence must be presented to prove each and every element of the offense or offenses alleged against you beyond a reasonable doubt.
  6. You have the right to confront and cross examine any witness or witnesses who are called to testify against you. Also you have the right to subpoena any witnesses who you may wish to testify in court on your behalf.
  7. You have the right to have your case heard within 30 days after you were either arrested or served a summons, whichever occurred first. However, this 30 day time period tolls, or is stopped during any period of delay as a result of a continuance requested or a motion submitted by you, or you fail to appear in court when requested to do so.
  8. You are further advised that if you are not a citizen of the United States of America that a Plea of Guilty in this court, a finding of Guilty after a No Contest Plea or conviction in a trial in this court may have an adverse impact on your ability to remain legally in this country, to gain citizenship in this country and/or could result in deportation proceedings against you.

The Potential Penalties This Court May Impose Include:

Offense Classification Maximum Jail Term Maximum Fine

1ST Degree Misdemeanor – 6 Months – $1,000


2nd Degree Misdemeanor – 90 Days – $ 750


3rd Degree Misdemeanor – 60 Days – $ 500


4th Degree Misdemeanor – 30 Days – $ 250


Minor Misdemeanor – 0 – $ 150


Unclassified Misdemeanor – 0 – $1,000
(Up to 500 hours of Community Service)


In addition, the court may suspend all or part of a jail sentence or fine and impose community control sanctions or probation for a period not to exceed three years. The court may place certain conditions on the community control sanctions and probation and may order you to obey and abide by those conditions. Should you violate any condition the court imposes, such as a probation condition or community control sanction, the court may terminate the community control sanction or probation and order you to serve whatever jail term it originally imposed and pay whatever fine amount that was suspended.

Court Procedure

When your case is called, you will be asked to enter a plea to the charge or charges that have been filed against you. You may enter one of the following pleas to charge(s) filed against you: guilty, not guilty or no contest. Click here for a brief description of each court plea.

Appeal

You have the right to appeal the judgment of this court. An appeal must be filed with the court within ten (10) days of the date of conviction. If you choose to appeal your case, it will be heard in the Licking County Municipal Court.

Effect On Your Drivers License

If you are convicted of a traffic violation, a record of your conviction will be sent to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and become part of your driving record. In addition, you are required to have proof of insurance. Failure to provide proof of insurance to this court when requested may result in the suspension of your driver’s license. This court will not grant limited driving privileges if you fail to provide proof of insurance.

If you are convicted of a drug offense, your license could be suspended for not less than six (6) months, and not longer than five (5) years.