Asked 7/27/2016 – Houston, TX

I’m not sure if I have been convicted of a felony but have been on probation for 2 years and have 1 more to go. I asked my PO to have my case moved to another county bc my family was being relocated by my Fiancé’s job. After the court official rudely said fat chance of that happening, the PO manager and my PO suggested having paperwork from my fiancé’s job proving that we were moving. When I did, my PO said she wasn’t going to submit my paperwork bc of the given verdict. Then after my family moved, I was left homeless, jobless, and no transportation. Then when I was barely starting a new job (mind you, no phone yet) my PO harassed my mother asking about me and threatened to have a warrant out for me if I didn’t drop what I was doing to go see her. Of fear for losing my new job, I didn’t make my appointment. I’ve been calling her to reschedule for 4 weeks now after buying a phone and have had no reply. Now my family found out that she got the court to file a warrant out for my arrest. What do I do?

Answer

You were the one placed on probation, and in order to stay out of prison, you had to comply with the terms of your probation order. You do not have a right to transfer probation to another county and you have the obligation to stay in contact with your PO. If that PO is unable to locate you, it is appropriate to request a motion to revoke. My experience has been that you will not win a fight in front of a Judge, claiming the PO was wrong and you were right (it was your faulty judgment that placed you on probation in the first place). Get an attorney ASAP, and address the motion.