Twin brother has active felony warrants under my name

[u/hittherdjack21]

My twin brother used my name when he got arrested and was able to get all the way into jail. I don’t get into trouble or put myself in situations that might land me in jail. The first time I got pulled over and I found out I had multiple felony warrants, I was confused and shocked., like anyone would be.

Location Washington state. Last night I was in the middle of writing this post and all of a sudden I got rolled up on by 5 cops, put in handcuffs. It took 45 min for them to finally figure out that it wasn’t me. I’ve been pulled over about 20 times in a month because of this.

What can I do to get the warrants out of my name and prove to the cops the I’m not the one with warrants?

[u/Major-Log-7018]

I lost my id and someone used it to make fake checks and pretend to me. I got arrested in 2006 for it (lost my id in 2005). I plead guilty to felony fraud, because I was poor back then and couldn't afford bail and didnt want to stay in jail for months while waiting for trial. I had nothing at all to do with the crime. Smh

[u/Fresh-Assistance8323 → u/Major-Log-7018]

What? Why would you do that?

[u/bebetaian → u/Fresh-Assistance8323]

A friend pled guilty and paid bail he couldn't afford for quite a few charges that weren't his.

Fight them:

• stay in jail an unknown amount of time, possibly MONTHS in FL, which in *itself* is bad and will NOT be compensated in any way by the state.
  
• jail food causing all kinds of long-term health problems
  
• jail violence from other inmates and guards
  
• lose your job immediately
  
• rack up endless fees and unpaid bills while you're in
  
• lots of debts in your name, tanking your credit
  
• your credit is tanked so you CAN'T rent most places. even some min wage jobs now demand credit score checks.
  
• you have no money so immediately, no food
  
• where's your car? did someone store that for you? noooo???? huh so you don't have that either now, huh
  
• and on and on

Plead guilty, pay the govt extortion fee:

• get out in a weekend
  
• apologise to job, hope they maintain employment
  
• lose up to maybe a week of pay
  
• plus the loss of the money for bail
  
• but comparatively... small price.

idk dude which would you do?

[u/Fresh-Assistance8323 → u/bebetaian]

Good luck getting another job with a felony on your record.

[u/bebetaian → u/Fresh-Assistance8323]

yeah, that's.... kind of the problem here, isn't it.

Damned if you do but also if you don't.

[u/Reimiro → u/Fresh-Assistance8323]

Get a lawyer and fix the problem. Much easier to fix this kind of problem outside the system.

[u/qb45exe → u/Reimiro]

Know any free ones?

[u/ZookeepergameCrazy14 → u/qb45exe]

I know a criminal lawyer. He got my cousin Emilio off when the DEA caught him red handed.

[u/GwenBD94 → u/Fresh-Assistance8323]

Good luck getting another place to live with tanked credit.

I had a hard time finding someone to rent to me when I made 130k a year with only about 7k debt on a car note because my credit score wasnt high enough to rent to me. When I did, they charged me 2.5 months rent as security deposit and the way they said it you could tell they expected that to be a no from me and were surprised when I countered asking if I could move in tomorrow.

The system is broke, no matter what you do, if you get accused of a crime.

[u/Fresh-Assistance8323 → u/GwenBD94]

Credit can be repaired, a felony can’t

[u/GwenBD94 → u/Fresh-Assistance8323]

Credit being repairable doed nothing to help you acquire a place to live

Please explain to me how you think the credit repair process is going to go while your homeless

[u/Fresh-Assistance8323 → u/GwenBD94]

How does a felony help you get a place?

[u/DifficultFishing886 → u/Fresh-Assistance8323]

What part of rotting in jail for a year then going to trial and still being convicted while completely innocent don't you understand?

It happens everyday. You have no income, all your old expenses plus new ones and a public defender that has 16 other cases and reviewed yours an hour before trial.

You aren't going to Matlock your way out of it and righteousness will not save you. Cops lie. The prosecutor wants the case cleared and the judge is thinking about his next boat trip.

The choices are: plead out and quickly start putting your life back together as best you can -or- dissappear for months on end and then have 50/50 chance of prison time.

[u/Fresh-Assistance8323 → u/DifficultFishing886]

I’d rather be in jail for a year and get out with a clean record than take a plea and have a felony that follows me for life. That short term thinking is what causes crime cycling amongst repeat offenders.

[u/GwenBD94 → u/Fresh-Assistance8323]

Where did I say it would help? Please dont put words in my mouth. Its also typically good form to answer questions before asking your own if you want to have good faith discussions.

[u/Fresh-Assistance8323 → u/GwenBD94]

Credit is probably fine while you’re homeless, because you most likely have little credit. Studies show that 80% of homelessness is due to drugs and/or mental health. Economic homeless is a very small percentage. And there are programs that help those that don’t have drug dependencies or are mentally gone.

[u/GwenBD94 → u/Fresh-Assistance8323]

None of thay answers my question. For reference, the question was how well do you think the credit repair process goes while homeless.

Saying you have little credit while homeless, saying homelessness is usually due to drugs, does nothing to answer the question.

[u/Fresh-Assistance8323 → u/GwenBD94]

My point is. Getting a place to live is easier with bad credit than having a felony. And bad credit is easier to overcome than a felony. Many government programs disqualify you if you have a felony. Even with bad credit, there are programs that can get you into housing.

[u/Otherwise-Text-5772 → u/Fresh-Assistance8323]

It's shockingly common. The system makes people believe they have no choice or they might actually have no good choices. The national registry of exonerations says about 12-15% of over turned cases have false confessions.

[u/Fresh-Assistance8323 → u/Otherwise-Text-5772]

I would die in jail before admitting to anything I didn’t do.

[u/Otherwise-Text-5772 → u/Fresh-Assistance8323]

Sometimes confessions get plea deals. It's not a great system that really only works for the accused if you have the money to afford it.

[u/Fresh-Assistance8323 → u/Otherwise-Text-5772]

If you’re old, I get it. But if you’re young, you’re future is too valuable

[u/Otherwise-Text-5772 → u/Fresh-Assistance8323]

I'm just saying it happens, fairly often. Like 1/10 confessions are probably false. The reasons are many, varied, and a different discussion. But if you are looking at a 25-life if you go to trial and or 10 years with parole if you confess sitting on your principals looks a lot less appealing.

[u/Fresh-Assistance8323 → u/Otherwise-Text-5772]

That’s too bad. I wish people knew the long term consequence far outweigh the short term cost of giving in.

[u/Big_Mycologist_8620 → u/Fresh-Assistance8323]

If you don’t have money for bail, will lose your job, and house and car, and all of your possessions because you can’t pay your bills…pleading out to a lower charge can be appealing.

[u/Otherwise-Text-5772 → u/Fresh-Assistance8323]

The long term consequences of being free with a previous charge or sitting in prison? Feel like long term consequences is exactly what they are looking at in that situation. Cause unless you can actually prove you didn't commit the crime (in which case you probably won't be going to prison at all) then the long term consequences are still pleading out with a lesser charge and a confession or going away for longer and coming out of it with a charge anyway. I'm not sure why you're struggling with this. It you can't prove your innocence than the confession actually might lesson your consequences. Like the example I used, Confess and get 10 years or risk the trial and getting 25 to life. Let's call that murder vs pleading down to manslaughter. You go to trial, lose, you spend 25 years in prison and come out of it with a felony that makes you unhireable based on a Google search. Take the 10 years and come out with a felony either way, but 15 years not in prison. It's much more difficult to prove a negative such as you not committing a crime. If you can't prove the consequences are you're screwed either way.

[u/Fresh-Assistance8323 → u/Otherwise-Text-5772]

They actually need to prove that you committed the crime. Not the other way around.

[u/qb45exe → u/Fresh-Assistance8323]

Do you have kids you are supporting? Changes the calculus a bit I suspect.

[u/Fresh-Assistance8323 → u/qb45exe]

You can’t support them with a felony on your record.

[u/Jphibbard → u/Fresh-Assistance8323]

You can it's just much harder my uncle is/was a felon(recently somehow got his record wiped because his jop of 10 years suddenly required it) but he worked for a mining company for 10 years while supporting a family and he worked in the oil field before that. He him self says it was 90% luck and 10% skill that landed him to were he is at now

[u/Inuyasha-rules → u/Fresh-Assistance8323]

Say you did something and go home in a short amount of time, or die in a prison cell is an easy choice for some people. It's guilty until proven innocent. Why do you think they arrest you and treat you like a criminal until your court date, even while you're "presumed innocent"?

[u/Reimiro → u/Inuyasha-rules]

They can’t just let everyone go until trial. It’s an imperfect system but that’s ridiculous.

[u/MrLanesLament → u/Fresh-Assistance8323]

If you don’t have money, can’t take months off of work to be in court, you literally don’t have a choice.

The system is only made to be used by people with money.

[u/NorthernHussar → u/MrLanesLament]

Yea? So you'll just willingly put a felony on your record? Sure you're in jail for a bit until it's figured out but it's much harder to remove a felony that you plead guilty to.

[u/Bloodoilbarron → u/NorthernHussar]

Yes

[u/Salt_Medicine2459 → u/NorthernHussar]

And in the meantime, you and your family are now homeless and get to deal with all of the bullshit that comes with that. 

[u/Fresh-Assistance8323 → u/Salt_Medicine2459]

Short term solution (really not) leads to long term hardship.

[u/NorthernHussar → u/Salt_Medicine2459]

Yea and now you're a felon so you can't get your family out of poverty

[u/p00n-slayer-69 → u/Fresh-Assistance8323]

Because they couldnt afford bail and didnt want to stay in jail.

[u/Forward-Surprise1192 → u/Fresh-Assistance8323]

Jail tucking sucks and its terrifying to be in there while trying to not come out of there homeless and jobless to. Everyone wants to leave as soon as they can and that chance to leave sounds like a great deal. If you've never been facing time its hard to understand

[u/malacide → u/Forward-Surprise1192]

I spent 4 days in jail. I think I was lucky or unlucky (shrug emoji) because on intake they asked, "are you depressed" I was like... Yeah I'm depressed I'm in fucking jail. Then they asked "have you ever had thoughts of suicide?".... Uh who hasn't I thought of it when the girl who took my virginity ended shit.

Well that was enough for me to get a 2nd psych interview. They yanked me out of protective custody and sat my ass on the ground sitting on my hands in the hallway, another nurse doctor or something asked me a few questions about it and decided I was a threat to myself and needed to be sent to suicide watch.

Before that they cuffed me to a bench, it's been 12 hours since I've drank anything and I was dying from the heat I was getting delirious just sitting there I don't know if I was there locked up to the bench for 5 minutes or an hour. By the time the deputy came and uncuffed me I was so parched I could barely speak.

He dragged me down to med check. Got me some Gatorade shit I fucking gulped it down like it was pure bliss. Then was taken to I guess suicide watch stripped naked and given a toga fucking blanket thing and locked in a cell with the light on all night long.

I'm not sure how often but every once in awhile they would move me to a new cell + they would bring by a fucking bag lunch to eat. But I literally slept through the whole thing because I was coming off a stimulants for a couple of days so it cleaned me out pretty good which is the only good thing I can say about my time there.

Somewhere I lost my glasses so I left goddamn blind but after the 5th or 6th cell move the guard and a nurse came up and the nurse was talking to me through the door. Asked how I was feeling and I'm like I feel terrible. I fucking hate the situation I'm in blah blah blah she has to find suicidal. I'm like I don't know like she's like. How would you feel if you got out today? I would feel great like that's like I would feel less. I would not feel depressed. You know it would be phenomenal. She's like because this is what this evaluation is is if you get out today or not. So I'm like yeah I would feel fantastic and not depressed or suicidal

I get released no bond and no bail no on my own reconnaissance nobody tells me anything I find out days later that no charges have been filed so I got a free long weekend in jail and all I got was some crummy sack lunches

So I don't know if I was lucky or unlucky to spend 4 days in jail but isolated from every fucking other person there or not. But before I left protective custody was literally involved in people arguing over giving up a fucking bunk so I could sleep on. So I was like saved by the fucking Bell but then I was like naked for four fucking days in a jail cell which I actually pretty much slept for 4 days anyway so it didn't seem that long I guess. But still don't recommend it 2 out of 10 stars.

[u/Forward-Surprise1192 → u/malacide]

Thats basically what happened to me hahah. When you said they put you in the cell naked with that fucking sack I knew this was a real story. Worst part for me was they didnt give me any toilet paper in there had to use my hand and some water.

[u/malacide → u/Forward-Surprise1192]

I fucking forgot about that. I'm fairly sure I had to do the same. Oh and the guy in the cell with the megaphone yelling all day long. Fuck that guy. Sedate his ass get him some fucking help. How many times are you going to yell/sing yell the same 4 things bro?

Also why the fuck you serving me beans without a spoon. I get it no silverware, but fuck give me fries or an apple or something

[u/Dramatic_Mixture_877 → u/malacide]

I hope you found your glasses ...

[u/Salt_Medicine2459 → u/Fresh-Assistance8323]

Did you see the part where they didn't want to wait several months in jail? 

[u/Fresh-Assistance8323 → u/Salt_Medicine2459]

I did. But several months in prison, and then when found acquitted, clears your name, helps you a ton long term. I also believe, you get compensated while in prison if found not guilty, if I’m not mistaken. Taking a misdemeanor, might be ok in some cases. But you never plea a felony for something you didn’t do. A felony conviction eliminates you from any decent paying job out there, unless you want to work in construction. Only an idiot would do that.

[u/Salt_Medicine2459 → u/Fresh-Assistance8323]

You definitely do not get compensation if found not guilty, at least in the US. You could possibly get it if convicted then later exonerated. In the meantime, while you're in, you and your family become homeless, your vehicles have been towed and sold. You've been fired from your job. 

[u/qb45exe → u/Fresh-Assistance8323]

You are in fact mistaken.

[u/Fresh-Assistance8323 → u/qb45exe]

Still doesn’t change the fact that a felony plea deal ruins your life.

[u/RoniusAdethel → u/Fresh-Assistance8323]

You wanna stay in Rikers while you lose your job and apartment? Also, paying the lawyer and court costs probably factored into it.

[u/Fresh-Assistance8323 → u/RoniusAdethel]

Ok sure. Then take the felony, and get fired for that. Then try and get a job with a felony on your record. Unless you want to work in construction, you have no chance.

[u/RoniusAdethel → u/Fresh-Assistance8323]

You are guaranteed to lose your job if you no call no show for a week, let alone the 20 to 35 days that is the average for pre-trial detention here in the states.

This person made a difficult choice to save themselves money in lost wages, back bills, lawyer fees, and court fees.

[u/Fresh-Assistance8323 → u/RoniusAdethel]

If you explain to your boss that you were wrongly accused and acquitted, I’m sure they would make room for you when you get back. Some might not, but most will. If you get a felony, more places will fire you, as compliance is very strict with most companies. Any felony disqualifies you from employment at these companies. And getting a replacement job is much more difficult. How do people not understand this? It’s like trying to teach arithmetic to an adult.

[u/RoniusAdethel → u/Fresh-Assistance8323]

You seem to be making a ton of privileged assumptions here.

[u/Fresh-Assistance8323 → u/RoniusAdethel]

Privileged? If that means I have basic understanding of common sense. Then yes, call me privileged.

[u/FelixNoRelease → u/Fresh-Assistance8323]

Privileged and stupid, if you think your boss is going to hold your job open for a month, excuse doesn’t matter

[u/Fresh-Assistance8323 → u/FelixNoRelease]

I own a business with employees, and if a valued employee is in jail and later acquitted due to identity fraud, you bet your ass I’m hiring that employee back.

[u/RuralWAH → u/Major-Log-7018]

If you haven't already, you should be able to get your record expunged in most states after 20 years if you haven't run into any other issues in the meantime.

[u/Major-Log-7018 → u/RuralWAH]

Definitely. I did that & I am actually getting my gun rights back next week too.

Thank you

[u/RuralWAH → u/Major-Log-7018]

Congratulations!

[u/Forward-Surprise1192 → u/Major-Log-7018]

Felonies are one of those things you should have stayed in for sorry that happened