Access Charlotte County Bench Warrants

Bench warrants in Charlotte County are issued by judges in the 20th Judicial Circuit when someone fails to appear for a court hearing or does not comply with a court order. Charlotte County is on the southwest coast of Florida with Punta Gorda as the county seat. The Clerk of Court and the Sheriff's Office both deal with bench warrant records in this county. With a population over 212,000, Charlotte County handles a steady flow of criminal, civil, and traffic cases. You can search for active bench warrants through the clerk's office, the sheriff, or the statewide FDLE database. This page walks through everything you need to know about bench warrants in Charlotte County.

Charlotte County Clerk of Court

The Charlotte County Clerk of Court maintains all court records for the 20th Judicial Circuit in Charlotte County. The main office is at 350 E. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda, FL 33950. Call (941) 637-2191 for bench warrant inquiries and court records requests. The Charlotte County Clerk website offers online access to court records, case search tools, and filing information.

The Charlotte County Clerk of Court homepage is shown below.

You can use the clerk's online tools to look up cases, check warrant status, and find filing information for Charlotte County. Staff at the courthouse can also search for bench warrants by name or case number during regular business hours.

Under Florida Statute 901.02, a judge in the 20th Judicial Circuit can issue a bench warrant when probable cause exists. The warrant gets processed through the clerk's office and entered into law enforcement databases. Charlotte County shares the 20th Judicial Circuit with Lee, Collier, Hendry, and Glades counties.

Charlotte County Sheriff Bench Warrants

The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office serves bench warrants and arrest warrants throughout the county. Their main office is at 7474 Utilities Rd, Punta Gorda, FL 33982. Phone is (941) 639-2101. You can call the sheriff to ask about active bench warrants in Charlotte County. Deputies serve warrants 24 hours a day, every day of the week.

Under Florida Statute 901.04, any sheriff in Florida can serve a Charlotte County bench warrant. Deputies from Charlotte County can also serve warrants from other counties through fresh pursuit. The arrest can happen any time, any day, with no restrictions. A bench warrant from Charlotte County can lead to arrest during a routine traffic stop in Lee County, Sarasota County, or anywhere else in the state.

Note: Charlotte County bench warrants are entered into both the FDLE database and the National Crime Information Center, making them visible to law enforcement agencies nationwide.

Charlotte County Bench Warrant Process

Most bench warrants in Charlotte County come from failure to appear. Under Florida Statute 88.3051, the court can issue a bench warrant, capias, or writ of bodily attachment when someone does not show up after proper notice. Missing a criminal hearing, a traffic court date, a civil proceeding, or a family law hearing can all trigger a bench warrant in Charlotte County. The judge signs the order from the bench, and it goes into effect right away.

Charlotte County bench warrants do not expire. This is an important fact that many people do not realize. Under Florida Statute 933.05, search warrants in Florida expire after 10 days. Bench warrants are completely different. They stay active in Charlotte County until the person is arrested, the judge recalls the warrant, or the subject is deceased. A bench warrant from years ago is still enforceable today.

The eWarrants system used across Florida connects police, state attorneys, clerks, judges, and sheriffs. Charlotte County participates in this network. When a bench warrant is issued in Charlotte County, it gets shared with agencies across the state in close to real time. Under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.730, the clerk or state attorney can also prepare a direct capias to bring someone back for sentencing or adjudication.

Penalties for Charlotte County Bench Warrants

Missing court in Charlotte County creates a new charge. Under Florida Statute 843.15, failure to appear on a felony is a third-degree felony. Up to five years in prison. Failure to appear on a misdemeanor is a first-degree misdemeanor. Up to one year in jail. These charges are separate from the original case that brought you to court.

The bench warrant sits in the system and makes things worse over time. Bond amounts may increase. Your record gets another charge added to it. And you can be arrested at any moment. During a traffic stop in Charlotte County. At the airport. During any contact with law enforcement. The original case is still pending too. Now there are two matters instead of one.

Courts in the 20th Judicial Circuit take failure to appear seriously. Judges may set strict conditions for people who have ignored bench warrants. Voluntary surrender through an attorney is almost always the smarter path. It shows the court you are taking things seriously and willing to face the charges in Charlotte County.

Resolving Charlotte County Bench Warrants

Start with a check. Call the Charlotte County Clerk at (941) 637-2191 or the sheriff at (941) 639-2101. You can also search the FDLE database at fdle.state.fl.us for bench warrants from Charlotte County and all other Florida counties. Once you confirm a bench warrant exists, get a criminal defense attorney.

A lawyer can help you with a Charlotte County bench warrant in several ways:

• File a motion to quash or recall the warrant
• Arrange voluntary surrender at the Charlotte County Jail
• Get a new court date scheduled quickly
• Represent you at the hearing on the failure to appear charge

Charlotte County bench warrants are public records. Florida's Sunshine Law, Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, gives anyone the right to ask about them. The Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers association connects all 67 county clerk offices statewide. Watch out for scam calls. No one from the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office will ever call to demand payment for a bench warrant. Real warrants are resolved through the court system, not over the phone.

Cities in Charlotte County

Charlotte County includes Punta Gorda and several unincorporated communities. No cities in Charlotte County meet the population threshold for a separate page. All bench warrants are handled through the 20th Judicial Circuit Court in Punta Gorda. Port Charlotte is the largest community in the county but is unincorporated. Other areas include Englewood, Murdock, and Rotonda West.

Nearby Counties

These counties are next to Charlotte County on the southwest Florida coast. Confirm which county issued your bench warrant before taking steps to resolve it.